All 23 Indian crew rescued after reported Ukrainian attack sparks fire in oil taker off Russia’s Black Sea coast
Flames and thick smoke rise from the Aframax Rio off Russia’s Black Sea coast near Sochi after the tanker was struck. (Image curtesy: X/@YakushinaLisa)
New Delhi: All 23 Indian crew members aboard the Liberian-flagged oil tanker Aframax Rio were rescued without any injury among the crew after the vessel was set ablaze in a reported Ukrainian drone attack off Russia’s Black Sea coast near Sochi on Tuesday evening. The incident occurred near the Russian resort city of Sochi, where a thick column of black smoke was visible rising from the sea.
The tanker had been attacked by “naval drones” and “crude oil is burning openly in the waters of the Black Sea”, Russia’s transport ministry said. Firefighters were initially unable to approach the blaze because of its intensity.
Authorities temporarily restricted access to beaches and coastal areas in the adjoining Sirius federal territory as emergency operations continued. The ministry did not identify the attacker. Responsibility for the incident has not been independently established and Ukraine had not publicly claimed responsibility at publication time.
Firefighting operations could proceed once the intensity of the blaze diminished, Russian authorities said. Water and air quality were also being monitored around Sirius, where officials said measured atmospheric pollutants remained below permissible limits; authorities had not publicly established the extent of any oil release or environmental damage.
Indian seafarers face growing Black Sea risks
The rescue came a day after another commercial vessel carrying Indian nationals was hit in a separate Black Sea incident. Two foreign seafarers were killed aboard the MV Royad Mammadov, while all three Indians in its crew were reported safe and one was receiving medical treatment, as RNA Media reported earlier.
India condemned that attack and expressed “grave concern” over threats to commercial shipping and seafarers. The Ministry of External Affairs said attacks on traffic in international waterways were undermining global commerce and reiterated New Delhi’s call for “dialogue and diplomacy” to end ongoing conflicts.
Indian seafarers have also faced recent attacks outside the Black Sea, including the Tuesday strike on the Panama-flagged MT On Peace in the Strait of Hormuz that injured 11 Indian sailors, as RNA Media reported earlier.
The Black Sea has become increasingly hazardous for civilian shipping since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with commercial vessels, ports and maritime infrastructure affected by attacks linked to the conflict.
The safe evacuation of all 23 Indians aboard the Aframax Rio ended the immediate threat to its crew, but the incident adds to concerns over the exposure of merchant seafarers operating through conflict affected waters.
