A severe explosion and fire occurred on a Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, causing it to sink in the Mediterranean Sea between Libya and Malta. The Russian government accused Ukraine of attacking the ship with an "unmanned sea drone" while it was part of the shadow fleet. Meanwhile, all 30 Russian crew members survived after the Maltese rescue team arrived promptly to assist.
Libyan port officials disclosed that the Russian LNG carrier named "Arctic Metagaz" sank in the Mediterranean Sea between Libyan and Maltese waters following an explosion and fire onboard.
The Russian government immediately accused Ukraine of terrorism, stating that Ukraine used an "unmanned sea drone" launched from the Libyan coast to attack the vessel. However, Ukraine's security service (SBU) has yet to comment on these allegations, and Libyan authorities said the cause of the fire remains unclear.
According to Libyan authorities, before the explosion, the Arctic Metagaz was carrying about 62,000 tons of LNG. The ship sank approximately 130 nautical miles (about 240 kilometers) north of Libya's Sirte port.
Russia's Ministry of Transport confirmed that there were 30 Russian crew members onboard. Byron Camilleri, Malta's Minister for Home Affairs, confirmed that the Maltese military safely rescued all crew members, finding them in lifeboats and all in good health.
Although Russia has not yet provided definitive evidence confirming Ukraine's involvement in the attack, footage circulated online showing the ship engulfed in flames during the night. Additionally, Serhiy Sternenko, a well-known Ukrainian blogger and advisor to the defense minister, posted images claiming to show the vessel with a "large hole in the engine room, difficult to repair."
President Vladimir Putin stated on government television, "This is a terrorist attack, and it is not the first time we have faced such incidents." Russia's Ministry of Transport further described the event as an "international maritime piracy crime" and accused the European Union of complicity.
The Arctic Metagaz is identified as part of Russia's "shadow fleet," which typically consists of older ships with changed ownership or insurance details to evade Western sanctions. The vessel was en route from Murmansk port in northern Russia to Port Said in Egypt.
Tracking data shows that the ship had turned off its automatic identification system prior to the incident, a common practice among shadow fleet vessels to avoid detection.
This incident is among the first attacks on a Russian ship outside the Black Sea region. If confirmed to be the work of Ukraine, it would demonstrate the Ukrainian military's capability to extend maritime operations as far as the Mediterranean Sea.
/BBC