Over 60 whales and marine mammals have been found dead in the Black Sea following an oil spill caused by the sinking of two Russian oil tankers. The Russian NGO Delpha reported that the death of these marine mammals is very likely related to the oil spill, calling the figure of 61 dead cetaceans 'high and atypical.' The oil spill, caused by the sinking of the Volgoneft-212 and the Volgoneft-239 tankers, has led to ongoing concerns about the ecological impact and difficulties in decontamination efforts due to the type of oil spilled. Russian President Vladimir Putin has called the incident an 'ecological disaster' and demanded measures to prevent further pollution.