A Liberian-flagged oil tanker carrying 23 Indian crew members caught fire off Russia’s Black Sea coast after coming under attack from an unmanned vessel, Russian authorities said. All 23 crew members were rescued and no injuries were reported.
The tanker, identified as Aframax Rio, was operating near the Russian resort city of Sochi when the incident occurred on Tuesday. Russia’s Transport Ministry said the vessel had been attacked by unmanned or naval drones, triggering a major fire aboard the ship.
All 23 Indian sailors rescued
According to Russia’s Transport Ministry, the tanker had 23 crew members and all of them were Indian nationals.
Emergency crews evacuated the entire crew after the fire broke out. Authorities said there were no injuries among the sailors.
The incident could have had a much more serious outcome because the vessel was carrying oil and the flames became intense enough initially to prevent firefighters from approaching the tanker.
Once the intensity of the fire decreased, emergency teams were able to begin efforts to tackle the blaze.
Huge fire reported near Sochi
The attack triggered a large fire, with crude oil reportedly burning on the surface of the Black Sea.
Videos and photographs circulating from the area showed a large column of black smoke rising from the vessel. Authorities in the Sirius federal territory, near Sochi, temporarily closed nearby beaches as emergency operations continued.
Officials also began monitoring air and water quality because of the burning oil.
Local authorities said initial air-quality monitoring did not indicate pollution levels posing a threat to public health.
Responsibility for the attack
Russian authorities described the incident as an attack by an unmanned vessel. Several reports have attributed the attack to Ukrainian drones, but the responsibility has not been independently established in the available reporting.
That distinction is important because the incident occurred amid a wider series of attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea.
The region has become increasingly dangerous for merchant vessels since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with both sides targeting military, energy and infrastructure-related assets.
Black Sea shipping faces growing risksThe Aframax Rio incident came on the same day as other attacks involving commercial vessels in the wider Black Sea region.
A separate Russian strike reportedly damaged a Marshall Islands-flagged merchant vessel carrying rapeseed oil, killing at least one crew member and injuring others. Two additional vessels were also reportedly hit by drones off Bulgaria, although the origin of those attacks remained disputed.
The incidents highlight the growing risks faced by merchant ships operating in or near areas affected by the Russia-Ukraine war.
Why the incident matters for India
The tanker incident has particular significance for India because all 23 members of the Aframax Rio crew were Indian nationals.
Indian seafarers have recently been involved in several incidents affecting commercial shipping in conflict zones.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has previously expressed concern over attacks on commercial vessels and seafarers and called for conflicts threatening maritime security to be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.
The latest incident again puts the safety of Indian merchant sailors working on international shipping routes in the spotlight.
For now, the immediate priority is the safety of the rescued crew and the response to the tanker fire. Authorities are continuing to deal with the consequences of the incident while questions remain over exactly who carried out the attack.
