23 Indian Sailors Rescued After Black Sea Tanker Attack
All 23 crew members aboard the Liberian-flagged oil tanker Aframax Rio have been rescued after the vessel was attacked by an unmanned craft and caught fire off Russia’s Black Sea coast. The entire crew comprised Indian nationals, and no injuries were reported.
23 Indian Crew Rescued From Aframax Rio
The tanker was attacked on October 6 while sailing off Russia’s Krasnodar region, triggering a fire onboard.
Russian emergency services evacuated all 23 crew members safely. Authorities said none of the Indian sailors sustained injuries during the incident.
Firefighting teams were deployed to contain the blaze as conditions aboard the vessel became manageable.
Unmanned Vessel Attack Triggers Tanker Fire
Russian authorities said the Aframax Rio came under attack from an unmanned vessel, although they did not immediately identify who was responsible.
The incident occurred near Sirius on Russia’s Black Sea coastline, where local authorities temporarily closed nearby beaches as a precaution.
The extent of damage to the tanker and its cargo was not immediately clear.
Black Sea Shipping Faces Growing Security Risks
The attack comes amid a sharp rise in incidents involving commercial shipping across the Black Sea as the Russia-Ukraine war increasingly affects maritime routes.
Recent drone strikes have hit civilian vessels near Romania and Bulgaria, causing deaths, injuries and the sinking of at least one ship.
The latest attack has renewed concerns over the safety of merchant crews operating along one of the region’s key trade and energy corridors.
