An oil tanker caught fire following a suspected drone attack in the Black Sea off Sochi, Russia, on Tuesday, October 6.
State-run new agency TASS identified the vessel as the Liberian-flagged crude carrier Aframax Rio and said it had been attacked by uncrewed boats.
The Russian Ministry of Transport (MOT) said the ship’s 23 crewmembers, all Indian nationals, have been rescued. Preliminary information indicated that no injuries have been reported, the ministry said.
Video footage of the supposed incident first showed a blaze around the vessel’s central cargo tanks, then flames moving aft along its starboard side.
Later footage showed a pool of burning oil on the water astern and a tall smoke plume.
The MOT also reported that oil was burning openly in the sea.
NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System data showed a large, intense heat signature west of Sochi. The hotspot was well northwest of Aframax Rio’s last detected position, which tracking services placed off Sirius on Monday, October 5.
Dmitry Plishkin, head of the administration of the Sirius federal territory, announced the temporary closure of local beaches.
“The state of water and air is constantly monitored in cooperation with the Russian Hydrometeorological Service,” Plishkin said in a social media post.
Atmospheric air quality monitoring showed pollutant concentrations in Sirius remained many times below maximum permissible levels and posed no threat to health, Plishkin added.
Ukraine added Aframax Rio to its sanctions list on February 12, 2026, among 91 vessels designated as part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet”.
In March, the crude tanker Altura was struck by a marine drone near the Bosphorus after departing Russia. Turkey’s transport minister said the vessel’s 27 crew members were safe. Baird Maritime’s August feature also covered attacks on vessels and port facilities in the Black Sea.
