Cyprus-linked Aframax Rio tanker struck by unmanned vessels near Sochi with all crew rescued
A Cyprus-linked crude oil tanker, the Liberian-flagged Aframax Rio, caught fire off Russia’s Black Sea coast near Sochi after being struck by unmanned surface vessels. The major fire led to the rescue of all 23 crew members, who are Indian nationals, with no injuries reported. Emergency crews initially could not approach the vessel due to the blaze, while local authorities temporarily closed beaches and advised residents to stay indoors. The fire was eventually brought under control.
The Aframax Rio is linked to Cypriot shipowner Andreas Hadjiyiannis and has been previously targeted by Ukrainian sanctions over its involvement in Russian oil trade. Despite sanctions, the vessel has continued operating from Russian ports this year. The attack on the Rio is part of a rising trend of assaults on commercial shipping in the Black Sea region, coinciding with recent drone strikes on vessels in Bulgarian and Romanian waters.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned these attacks, emphasizing the increasing risks to commercial ships and their crews. So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack on the Aframax Rio, and Russian authorities have not identified the operators of the unmanned vessels involved.
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