The
Liberian-flagged Aframax Rio, carrying nearly 760,000 barrels of crude oil from
Novorossiysk to India, caught fire Tuesday evening off Russia's Black Sea
resort city of Sochi after Russia's Transport Ministry reported an attack by
unmanned boats. All 23 Indian crew members were rescued unharmed, though
intense flames delayed firefighting.
Ukrainian
and pro-Ukrainian accounts called it a strike on Russia's shadow fleet, while
local officials closed beaches and advised residents to stay indoors due to
spreading smoke. The incident adds to ongoing Black Sea shipping attacks amid
the conflict.
