Ukrainian Drone Strike Ignites Oil Tanker with 23 Indians Aboard
A Ukrainian drone attack set ablaze an oil tanker off Russia's Black Sea coast, leading to the successful rescue of all Indian crew members.
The Aframax Rio tanker was attacked by Ukrainian naval drones, causing a significant fire.
All 23 Indian crew members were safely rescued with no reported injuries.
The incident highlights ongoing risks to commercial shipping in the Black Sea amid the Ukraine conflict.
On Tuesday, a Ukrainian drone strike targeted the Liberian-flagged oil tanker Aframax Rio, which was carrying a crew of 23 Indian nationals, off the coast of Russia's Black Sea. Russian authorities confirmed that all crew members were rescued following the incident, which ignited a fire in the waters near Sochi.
The Russian transport ministry reported that the tanker was struck by unmanned naval drones, leading to a blaze that produced a large cloud of black smoke visible from the resort city of Sochi. Emergency services were dispatched, and despite initial challenges in combating the fire due to its intensity, they were able to control it as conditions improved. Fortunately, there were no injuries among the crew members.
The Aframax Rio was reportedly located in the southern Krasnodar region when the attack occurred. In response to the fire, local authorities closed beaches in the Sirius federal territory and began monitoring air and water quality. Dmitry Plishkin, head of the Sirius administration, stated that pollutant levels remained significantly below harmful thresholds, posing no health risks to the public.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of escalating attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea, a trend that has intensified since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Both nations have targeted maritime vessels, with recent Russian strikes affecting grain carriers and other merchant ships. Earlier on the same day, a Russian attack on a merchant vessel flagged by the Marshall Islands resulted in casualties among the crew.
In light of these developments, the Indian government has expressed serious concern over the safety of its nationals aboard commercial vessels in conflict zones. The Ministry of External Affairs has previously condemned attacks on Indian crew members and emphasized the need for diplomatic solutions to ensure maritime security. In September, India, alongside Liberia, initiated a coalition of 25 nations aimed at enhancing the safety of shipping and seafarers globally.
