️ A Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker, the Arctic Metagaz, has sunk in the Mediterranean Sea between Libya and Malta following explosions and a fire, according to Libyan port officials. The cause of the fire remains unclear, highlighting the volatile security situation in the region. Libyan authorities stated the tanker was carrying approximately 62,000 tonnes of LNG before the blasts and sank about 130 nautical miles (240km) north of the Libyan port of Sirte.
️ The Russian government accused Ukraine of targeting the vessel with "uncrewed sea drones" launched from the Libyan coast, labeling it "an act of international terrorism and maritime piracy" and implicating the European Union for complicity. However, the Russian transport ministry provided no evidence to substantiate these claims, casting doubt on their veracity. Ukraine's SBU state security service declined to comment on the allegation, while a Ukrainian government-linked social media account, United24, teased ambiguously that the drones were "Definitely. Maybe" not part of the Ukrainian fleet.
️ Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the incident as a "terrorist attack," asserting that such events are not unprecedented. The tanker had been en route from Russia's northern port of Murmansk to Port Said in Egypt and is considered part of Russia's so-called "shadow fleet," deployed to circumvent Western sanctions aimed at slashing revenues critical for funding Moscow's war in Ukraine. This fleet largely comprises aged tankers with obscure ownership or insurance, increasing risks of maritime incidents.
️ The Russian transport ministry reported that 30 Russians were aboard the Arctic Metagaz; Maltese Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri confirmed they were all found "safe and sound in a lifeboat" during a rescue operation by Malta's armed forces. Unverified night-time footage has emerged purportedly showing the ship ablaze after the attack, which occurred on Tuesday, and marine tracking data indicated the tanker had last reported its position off the southeast coast of Malta the day before the fire, with the crew assumed to have deactivated its automatic identification system.
️ Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Kyiv has carried out numerous attacks on Russian vessels using naval drones, though nearly all such strikes have been confined to the Black Sea. This incident in the Mediterranean represents a potential escalation, underscoring the broader geopolitical tensions and the challenges Russia faces in maintaining its energy exports amid ongoing conflict. The lack of clear attribution and evidence points to the murky nature of maritime warfare in the region.
Source: www.bbc.com