Russian LNG Tanker Sinks Off Libyan Coast; Russia Blames Ukraine for Attack

Kathmandu. Russia has blamed Ukraine for the sinking of a Russian tanker carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) near the coast of Libya.

According to the Sirte Port Authority in Libya, the 'Arctic MegaGas' tanker caught fire following a sudden explosion on Tuesday night and eventually sank completely. Russia's Ministry of Transport, however, claimed that the vessel was attacked by a Ukrainian naval drone. The ministry described the incident as an act of 'international terrorism and piracy'.

Videos and photos circulated on social media since Monday night showed a large explosion at sea, although this evidence has not been independently verified.

According to the Libyan authority, the ship was loaded with approximately 62,000 metric tons of LNG and was en route to Port Said, Egypt. The Russian ministry stated that the ship had departed from the port of Murmansk in northern Russia.

Russia reported that all 30 crew members aboard the vessel were rescued safely. The accident reportedly occurred about 130 nautical miles north of the Sirte port, within Libya's search and rescue zone. The authority has warned other vessels to stay clear of the accident site.

Libya's National Oil Corporation clarified that the tanker was merely transiting through the central Mediterranean and that the incident had no impact on local oil and gas supplies. The company also indicated that traffic at Libyan ports remains normal.