Ukrainian Drone Attack Sets Oil Tanker Ablaze Off Russia’s Black Sea Coast
A Ukrainian drone attack set fire to a Liberia-flagged oil tanker carrying 23 Indian crew members off Russia’s Black Sea coast near Sochi.
Russia’s Transport Ministry said the tanker was struck by naval drones, causing crude oil to catch fire in the sea. Firefighters were initially unable to approach the vessel due to the intensity of the blaze. All 23 crew members were rescued, while one Indian crew member was reportedly injured.
The incident occurred a day after another vessel caught fire and sank off the Romanian coast, leaving one person dead and another missing.
The latest attack comes amid escalating strikes by Russia and Ukraine on commercial shipping and energy infrastructure in and around the Black Sea. Authorities in Sochi have also restricted access to parts of the coast and beaches as firefighting and containment efforts continue.
