An animal rescue group said 61 dead cetaceans - an order of aquatic mammals that includes whales and dolphins - had been recorded since the oil spill.

Thousands are attempting to help lessen the damage, but some volunteers say the government is not doing enough to help.

Russian President Vladimir Putin calls the incident an "ecological disaster" as officials and volunteers attempt to clean beaches contaminated with the heavy oil.

In this photo released by Sevastopol mayor Mikhail Razvozhaev telegram channel on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, veterinarians clean a bird after tons of fuel oil spilled out of two storm-stricken

Fuel oil spilled out of two tankers nearly three weeks ago in the Kerch Strait, about 250 kilometres from Sevastopol on the southwest of the occupied Crimean Peninsula. #EuropeNews

A dolphin rescue center in Russia says 32 dolphins have died since fuel oil spilled out of two storm-stricken tankers three weeks ago in the Kerch Strait near the Russia-occupied Crimean Peninsula

An oil spill in the Black Sea is believed to have resulted in the death of over 30 cetaceans, including several members of an endangered subspecies. The spill, which occurred after two Russian oil tankers were damaged in a storm in mid-December 2024,