MOSCOW, Oct 7: A Liberiaflagged oil tanker carrying an all Indian crew of 23 came under attack by unmanned surface vessels off Russia’s Black Sea coast, with Russian authorities confirming that all crew members were safely evacuated.
The Aframax Rio was targeted by drone boats on Tuesday near Sochi, a major resort city on Russia’s Black Sea coastline. The Russian Transport Ministry said the 23 Indian sailors were rescued and, according to preliminary information, none suffered injuries.
“The crew has been saved and evacuated to shore,” a spokesman for the ministry told the state-run TASS news agency.
Following the attack, a major fire broke out aboard the tanker. Russian officials said the flames were initially too intense for firefighting operations to begin, leaving the vessel surrounded by burning oil.
Oil continued to burn on the surface of the Black Sea, while emergency teams waited for conditions to become safer. Firefighting operations could begin only after the intensity of the blaze declined enough to allow rescue and emergency vessels to approach the tanker.
Russian Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin chaired a headquarters meeting to coordinate efforts to deal with the aftermath of the incident and oversee the response to the tanker fire.
Authorities in Sochi also introduced temporary restrictions along the city’s coastline as a precaution. Mayor Andrey Proshunin announced that access to beaches and sea embankments had been suspended, urging residents and visitors to stay away from potentially dangerous areas until officials issued further instructions.
The latest incident has added to growing concerns over the safety of commercial shipping in the Black Sea, where vessels and port infrastructure have increasingly faced risks amid the continuing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The waterway is an important route for international trade, including the movement of energy and agricultural commodities. Repeated attacks involving drones and other weapons have increased concerns among shipping operators and seafarers about navigating the region.
The tanker attack occurred only two days after another incident involving a civilian cargo ship in the Black Sea. A Russian drone strike reportedly triggered a fire aboard a Turkish-owned vessel, killing at least two people and injuring several crew members, including an Indian national.
India has expressed serious concern over attacks affecting commercial vessels and their crews in the region.
The Ministry of External Affairs said attacks on commercial shipping in international waters were having a serious impact on global trade and the welfare of people dependent on maritime transport. New Delhi has continued to advocate dialogue and diplomacy as the preferred route towards ending ongoing conflicts.
The safety of Indian seafarers has remained an important concern for the government as fighting in and around the Black Sea continues to create risks for merchant vessels.
The latest rescue also highlights the vulnerability of civilian shipping operating close to conflict zones. Although the crew of the Aframax Rio escaped without reported injuries, the fire and continuing oil combustion created an additional environmental and maritime emergency.
Emergency authorities must now manage the tanker and its cargo while attempting to prevent further risks to nearby shipping and coastal areas.
The temporary closure of Sochi’s beaches reflects the immediate safety concerns arising from the incident. Officials are expected to assess the situation before restrictions are lifted and normal access to the coastline resumes.
The attack also comes against the backdrop of India’s diplomatic efforts to encourage an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Sunday that India had increased its engagement with both Moscow and Kyiv in recent months as part of its efforts to help find a resolution to the conflict.
India has maintained that dialogue and diplomacy remain essential to resolving the war. New Delhi has also repeatedly raised concerns about the broader consequences of the conflict for food, energy and global trade.
With commercial vessels continuing to operate through waters affected by the conflict, the latest attack could further intensify international concerns about maritime security in the Black Sea.
For now, the immediate priority remains containing the tanker fire and ensuring that the rescued crew members remain safe. Russian emergency agencies are continuing to monitor the situation while authorities assess the damage caused by the attack.