Oil-Covered Birds Found Along Russia’s Black Sea Coast After Tanker Fire

Oct. 13, 2026 @zhemchuzhnaya / Telegram Seabirds covered in oil have been found along Russia’s Black Sea coast following a fire aboard a tanker linked to the country’s so-called shadow fleet, a wildlife rehabilitation center said Monday. The center in the coastal resort of Anapa said it had begun receiving oil-coated birds from coastal towns and appealed for additional volunteers to help treat and feed them. The reports came after the Liberia-flagged Aframax Rio caught fire in an attack off the coast of Sochi on Oct. 6. The 247-meter (810-foot) tanker has been linked to Russia’s shadow fleet. The blaze was extinguished on Oct. 7 and the vessel was then towed to Novorossiysk, about 200 kilometers (124 miles) northwest of Sochi. Workers started pumping oil out of the damaged tanker Monday, according to local reports. Sochi authorities denied reports of oil-covered birds, saying beach inspections had found no traces of petroleum products. Satellite images, however, showed an expanding oil slick in the days after the fire. A radar image from Saturday showed the slick stretching northwest toward Novorossiysk. Independent environmentalist Zhora Kavanosyan said Novorossiysk’s chief rescuer Alexei Oderov had confirmed that petroleum products had washed ashore but that he described the scale of the contamination as “nothing catastrophic.” Meanwhile, Russian transportation and maritime rescue authorities said Tuesday that inspections along the Krasnodar region’s Black Sea coast had found no oil spills. The latest reports come nearly two years after a major oil spill in December 2024, when two Russian tankers released thousands of tons of heavy fuel oil into the Black Sea after being damaged in a storm in the Kerch Strait. The spill polluted beaches around Anapa and prompted authorities to declare a federal emergency. Read more about: Black Sea , Animals , Environment , Oil , Sochi Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Feature Black Rain, Toxic Air and Bird Deaths: Russian Black Sea Town Reels From Refinery Strike The scene in Tuapse has turned apocalyptic in recent days after strikes on a local oil refinery sparked major fires and caused an oil spill. 4 Min read Spill Discovered in Black Sea After Ukrainian Strike on Tuapse Oil Terminal – BBC It is the latest in a series of oil spills in the Black Sea in recent months. 2 Min read Over 100 Dead Dolphins Wash Ashore on Russia's Black Sea Coast Many of the animals showed signs of having been caught in fishing nets, including deep scratches, missing fins or tails, as well as torn stomachs. 1 Min read Russian Villagers Rescue Beached Beluga Whales A team of 17 adults and children kept the animals hydrated for eight hours until belugas could escape to the sea with the rising tide.