Shadow Tanker Hit by Ukrainian Drones Threatens Spill Off Russia's Black Sea Coast
A Ukrainian drone strike set the 107,000-ton Aframax Rio ablaze 30 km (15 nautical miles) off Sochi. Russian officials say no pollution occurred and reopened beaches, while reports indicate oil spilled and burned on the water.
A massive oil tanker, the 107,000-ton Rio, was set ablaze by Ukrainian drones off the coast of Sochi, Russia's Black Sea resort region, on Tuesday evening. Russian authorities reported that the tanker's open fire has been extinguished and no pollution has been recorded in the water, air, or ground of the Sochi region. Sochi Mayor Andrey Proshunin assured citizens that beaches and waters are now open for public use.
The vessel, a Liberian-flagged Aframax tanker, was drifting slowly northeast in international waters when it was targeted. Ukraine claims to have launched the drone attack, but Russia does not acknowledge this. The tanker, which was fully loaded, is now drifting with the current along the shoreline. All local waters and beaches have been deemed safe for public use.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
