Russian LNG Tanker Sinks in Mediterranean After Explosion; Moscow Blames Ukraine for 'Terrorist Attack'

A Russian tanker carrying 62,000 tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) sank in the Mediterranean Sea between Libya and Malta following an explosion and subsequent fire. Libyan port officials stated the accident occurred approximately 240 kilometers north of the city of Sirte.

Russia has labeled the incident as international terrorism and piracy, claiming that Ukraine attacked using an unmanned maritime drone off the coast of Libya. Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking on state television, called it a terrorist attack and implicated the European Union in the matter.

The tanker, en route from Murmansk to Port Said, Egypt, is considered part of Russia's shadow fleet, which is heavily sanctioned by Western nations. While Ukrainian security services (SBU) have not issued an official comment, social media accounts affiliated with the Ukrainian government have cryptically hinted at possible involvement. Serhiy Sternenko, an advisor to the Ukrainian Defense Minister, released images showing severe, irreparable damage to the ship's engine room.

All 30 Russian crew members aboard the vessel were safely rescued by the Maltese Armed Forces after being found in a lifeboat. Tracking data indicates the tanker turned off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) one day before the fire, creating confusion about its exact location. Russia has reportedly been using such old and uninsured vessels to fund its war efforts and circumvent international sanctions.

Previously, Ukraine had only targeted Russian vessels in the Black Sea region with maritime drones; however, this potential attack in the Mediterranean raises fears that the scope of the war could expand further. Libyan authorities maintain that the actual cause of the fire is not yet clear and that investigations are ongoing.