CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: An oil tanker caught fire after it was attacked by an unmanned vessel near Russia’s Black Sea coast. According to the Russian Transport Ministry, the Liberia-flagged Aframax Rio tanker came under attack near Sochi. All 23 crew members on board were Indian citizens and were evacuated safely. No injuries were reported.
According to Russian officials, crude oil on the tanker caught fire after the attack and heavy smoke was seen. In the initial phase, the intensity of the fire was so high that firefighters faced difficulty in bringing it under control. Later, after the intensity of the fire reduced, relief and rescue teams managed the situation. As a precaution, some beaches in the Sirius area near Sochi were also closed.
The incident comes at a time when attacks on commercial vessels and ports in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov region have affected maritime trade. According to analyses, Ukrainian attacks have led to a sharp decline in grain exports from Russia’s key Black Sea ports. Reports had emerged that in August 2026, Russia’s grain exports recorded a year-on-year fall of more than around 50 percent, while some estimates put the decline in wheat exports at nearly 70 percent. Rising attacks in the Black Sea region have also increased pressure on insurance and transport costs along with the maritime movement of oil, grain and other commodities. This has also kept concerns alive over the impact on global food and energy supplies.
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