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The Liberian-flagged crude oil tanker Aframax Rio was set ablaze after being struck by a Ukrainian drone off Russia's southern coast. All 23 Indian crew members were safely rescued, and firefighting efforts remain underway.
Vessel AFRAMAX RIO, image credit: Claudio Ritossa
The incident occurred on the evening of 6 October when the vessel was near the city of Sochi in the Krasnodar region of the Black Sea. The tanker was transporting crude oil from Novorossiysk to India and was nearly fully loaded at the time of the attack. An unmanned naval drone struck the vessel, igniting a major fire that also set the crude oil cargo alight.
The vessel had an all-Indian crew of 23. All crew members were safely rescued.The tanker continued to burn openly in the Black Sea, with emergency responders initially unable to approach due to the intensity of the blaze. The Russian transport ministry later stated that firefighting efforts began once the fire had subsided somewhat.
A large black smoke plume is visible from Sochi, and air and water quality are being monitored. Coastal areas near the vessel have been cordoned off following the incident.
Although Ukraine has not officially claimed responsibility, Russian statements and Ukraine-aligned accounts have attributed the attack to Ukrainian forces.
