Ukrainian Drone Attack Ignites Oil Tanker Off Sochi, Rescuing 23 Crew Members

• •A naval drone struck a Liberian-flagged oil tanker near Sochi, Russia.
• •All 23 crew members, who are Indian nationals, were successfully rescued.
• •The incident reflects escalating tensions in the Black Sea amid ongoing conflict.

An oil tanker off the coast of Sochi, Russia, was struck by a naval drone, causing a significant fire. The tanker, flagged in Liberia, was carrying a crew of 23 Indian nationals, all of whom were rescued. The Russian transport ministry confirmed that crude oil was burning in the Black Sea. Local authorities restricted access to the coast due to the incident. This attack is part of ongoing hostilities in the Black Sea region, where both Russia and Ukraine have targeted commercial shipping. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned of a potential massive strike from Russia following this incident. Bulgarian officials reported that two commercial vessels were also attacked by drones in their exclusive economic zone, with Ukraine blaming Russia for these strikes. The situation remains tense as winter approaches, with increased attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure.