Black Sea Tanker Ablaze, 23 Indians Rescued

On October 6, 2026, the Liberian-flagged tanker Aframax Rio caught fire off Russia's Black Sea coast near Sochi. Russia's Transport Ministry said an unmanned vessel attacked the ship, crude oil burned on the water, and emergency crews rescued all 23 crew members—all Indian nationals—without injuries. Firefighters could not tackle the blaze directly at first; they contained it after the intensity decreased. Black smoke rose over Sochi. Authorities closed beaches in Sirius. Residents were advised to stay indoors and keep windows closed. Dmitry Plishkin said beaches were temporarily closed and water and air were constantly monitored, adding: "According to atmospheric air quality monitoring data, pollutant concentrations in the Sirius Federal Territory remain many times lower than the maximum permissible concentrations and pose no threat to health." He also said: "A tanker caught fire in the Black Sea. To ensure the safety of people, the beaches of Sirius will be temporarily closed. The state of water and air is constantly monitored." Outlets differ on attribution. Multiple reports call the attackers Ukrainian naval drones or an unmanned vessel linked to Ukraine. Coverage also cited Ukrainian-aligned claims the tanker was hit and Russian sources saying only that a vessel near the port was on fire with the cause unknown. Monitoring with the Hydrometeorological Service continued.