Trending Now - Ukraine Blamed for Fire That Sunk Russian Tanker in Med

WHO:

Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of carrying out the attack.

Serhii Sternenko, a blogger and adviser to Ukraine's defense minister, posted images of the tanker.

The tanker was operated by a Russian company and was flagged under Russia.

The Libyan Maritime Authority reported on the incident.

Maltese and Russian rescuers were involved in the rescue operation.

WHAT:

The Arctic Metagaz, a Russian-flagged tanker carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG), sank after experiencing explosions and a fire.

The tanker was carrying 61,000 tons of LNG.

All 30 crew members were rescued and transferred to another vessel.

Putin described the incident as a "terrorist attack" and an "act of international terrorism and piracy."

The tanker was under Western sanctions and was suspected to be part of Russia’s shadow fleet.

WHERE:

The incident occurred in the Mediterranean Sea, approximately 240 kilometers (150 miles) off the coast of Sirte, Libya.

The tanker sank between Libya and Malta.

The tanker had sailed from Murmansk, Russia, and was bound for Port Said, Egypt.

WHEN:

The explosion and sinking occurred on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

Putin made his accusations on Wednesday, March 4, 2026.

WHY:

The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear, but Russia accused Ukraine of launching a naval drone attack.

HOW:

The Russian Transportation Ministry stated that a Ukrainian naval drone struck the Arctic Metagaz, allegedly launched from the coast of Libya.

In a dramatic incident on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, the Russian-flagged tanker Arctic Metagaz, carrying 61,000 tons of liquefied natural gas, sank in the Mediterranean Sea after experiencing explosions and a fire. Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of launching a naval drone attack that led to the sinking, while all 30 crew members were successfully rescued and transferred to another vessel. The tanker, which had been under Western sanctions and was suspected to be part of Russia’s shadow fleet, was en route from Murmansk to Port Said, Egypt, when it sank approximately 240 kilometers off the coast of Sirte, Libya.