{"id":158349,"date":"2026-03-27T17:08:38","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T15:08:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/za-chornoiu-khvyleiu\/"},"modified":"2026-08-12T18:12:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T15:12:34","slug":"behind-the-black-wave","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/en\/behind-the-black-wave\/","title":{"rendered":"Behind the Black Wave"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Due to military actions, the sea has suffered a severe blow, and marine mammals \u2014 bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins, and harbour porpoises \u2014 have been affected the most. Explosions, sea mines, fuel oil spills, and especially military sonars destroy life underwater. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, about 60,000 dolphins have died.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Russian fleet uses high-frequency hydroacoustic sonars that produce sound waves dozens of times louder than normal ocean noise. For dolphins this means losing the ability to navigate, communicate, hunt, and find food. Disoriented animals often wash ashore. Dolphin populations are declining even in regions far from the frontline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to conservationists, population recovery may take decades \u2014 and only if hostilities cease immediately and the waters are cleared. Their disappearance will disrupt the food chain, increase diseases among marine animals, and worsen the overall condition of the Black Sea, affecting both biodiversity and people who depend on its resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-horizontal alignwide size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1335\" src=\"https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04071-fkopiia.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-144177\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04071-fkopiia.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04071-fkopiia-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04071-fkopiia-1440x961.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04071-fkopiia-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04071-fkopiia-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04071-fkopiia-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04071-fkopiia-670x448.jpg 670w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first dead dolphin in Ukraine was found on March 27, 2022 \u2014 the 32nd day of the full-scale war. There were no visible injuries on its body. Studies conducted in foreign laboratories confirmed death caused by sonar exposure. Today, every case of marine mammal death is recorded and submitted to the prosecutor\u2019s office under Article 441 \u2014 \u201cEcocide.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">War in the Black Sea is a death that cannot be heard. Sonars cut through the water like blades, oil slicks suffocate it. The black wave rolls on \u2014 and the sea will never be the same again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><em>Valentyna Polishchuk (1998) is a Ukrainian documentary and reportage photographer. She lives and works in Kyiv. She has worked in journalism since 2021. She is a photo editor and photographer for the media outlet The Ukrainians and the literary reportage and documentary photography magazine Reporters.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><em>Her work focuses on documentary and socially engaged photography. At the center of her attention are individuals during historical turning points, the everyday life of society and the environment during the full-scale war, as well as experiences of loss, military service and volunteer work.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery alignwide has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-vertical size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1333\" height=\"2000\" data-id=\"144191\" src=\"https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04221.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-144191\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04221.jpg 1333w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04221-682x1024.jpg 682w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04221-960x1440.jpg 960w, 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https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04211-1024x1536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1333px) 100vw, 1333px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-vertical size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1333\" height=\"2000\" data-id=\"144185\" src=\"https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04193-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-144185\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04193-2.jpg 1333w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04193-2-682x1024.jpg 682w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04193-2-960x1440.jpg 960w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04193-2-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04193-2-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04193-2-1024x1536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1333px) 100vw, 1333px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-horizontal alignwide size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC01544.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-144173\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC01544.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC01544-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC01544-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC01544-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC01544-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC01544-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC01544-670x448.jpg 670w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC01544-245x162.jpg 245w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery alignwide has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-horizontal size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"144203\" src=\"https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04479.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-144203\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04479.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04479-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04479-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04479-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04479-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04479-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04479-670x448.jpg 670w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04479-245x162.jpg 245w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-horizontal size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"144211\" src=\"https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC06437.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-144211\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC06437.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC06437-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC06437-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC06437-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC06437-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC06437-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC06437-670x448.jpg 670w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC06437-245x162.jpg 245w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-horizontal alignwide size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04285.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-144197\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04285.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04285-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04285-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04285-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04285-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04285-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04285-670x448.jpg 670w, https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSC04285-245x162.jpg 245w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Russian military sonars destroy life underwater. Since 2022, about 60,000 dolphins have died. Photography project by Valentyna Polishchuk<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5239,"featured_media":144267,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2238,2152,2232,2],"tags":[8146,8145,8147],"class_list":["post-158349","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-reportages-en","category-reporters","category-reporters-en","category-reportages","tag-black-sea","tag-dolphins","tag-ecology"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Behind the Black Wave &#8211; Reporters.<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Russian military sonars destroy life underwater. Since 2022, about 60,000 dolphins have died. Photography project by Valentyna Polishchuk\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/theukrainians.org\/en\/behind-the-black-wave\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Behind the Black Wave\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Russian military sonars destroy life underwater. Since 2022, about 60,000 dolphins have died. 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