Ukrainian drone attack sets fire to oil tanker with 23 Indian crew members off Russia

A Ukrainian drone attack set an oil tanker carrying an all-Indian crew on fire off Russia’s Black Sea coast, with all 23 crew members rescued safely, according to the Russian Transport Ministry.

The Liberian-flagged tanker was attacked by what the ministry described as “naval drones”, after which the crude oil aboard the vessel caught fire. The blaze was reportedly so intense that firefighters were initially unable to approach the tanker and begin firefighting operations.

The Russian Transport Ministry said another attempt would be made to bring the fire under control after the intensity of the blaze subsided.

All 23 crew members were rescued following the attack, the ministry said, with no casualties reported among those on board.

The incident took place near Sochi, the major Russian resort city on the Black Sea coast. The city, known for its beaches and tourism, has a population of nearly 500,000.

Videos and images circulating on social media showed intense orange flames engulfing the vessel at sea, accompanied by a thick column of black smoke rising near the coastline.

Sochi Mayor Andrei Khapsaev said access to parts of the coast and beaches was being restricted following the incident.

The tanker fire came a day after another vessel caught fire and sank off the Romanian coast, killing one person and leaving another missing. Ukraine said the earlier incident was caused by a Russian drone attack. An Indian crew member was also reported injured in that incident.

The latest incident adds to growing concerns over the safety of commercial shipping in the Black Sea, where maritime traffic has faced increasing risks since Russia launched its full-scale military operation in Ukraine in 2022.

Both Russia and Ukraine have targeted maritime infrastructure and vessels during the conflict. In recent days, Russia has struck grain vessels carrying Ukrainian cargo near Romania, a member of the European Union.

Ukraine, for its part, has said attacks on Russian oil infrastructure are retaliation for Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities and towns.

With both sides signalling plans to intensify their military operations, commercial shipping companies operating in the Black Sea face heightened security risks.

Russia has also stepped up drone attacks on Ukraine, including strikes during daylight hours targeting Kyiv, while attacks on key infrastructure have caused major disruption and traffic congestion in the Ukrainian capital.

The latest tanker fire highlights the growing spillover risks for international commercial shipping as the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues to affect one of the region’s key maritime routes.