Ukraine strikes an oil tanker off Sochi / Fire generates a cloud of black smoke

Ukraine struck, on Tuesday evening, with naval drones, a Liberian-flagged tanker off Russia’s southern coast, near the city of Sochi. The attack triggered a large-scale fire, and a dense cloud of black smoke was observed above the Black Sea resort.

Russia’s Ministry of Transport announced that the crude oil was burning in the open air and that the intensity of the flames prevented firefighters from intervening. The 23 crew members, all Indian citizens, were rescued.

Images shared on social media captured powerful flames at sea and columns of smoke visible from the city. Local authorities restricted access to the promenade and beaches while the situation continues to be assessed.

The attack comes amid an intensification of strikes on commercial shipping in the Black Sea. In recent days, Russia attacked cargo ships carrying Ukrainian grain near the coast of Romania. Kyiv maintains that strikes on Russian oil infrastructure represent a response to Moscow’s bombardment of Ukrainian cities.