Oil Tanker Aframax Rio Catches Fire After Drone Attack Near Sochi

The Liberia-flagged tanker Aframax Rio caught fire in the Black Sea near Sochi on October 6, 2026, after being attacked by unmanned surface vessels, according to Russia's Transport Ministry. The vessel was carrying crude oil from Novorossiysk to India. All 23 crew members, Indian nationals, were evacuated safely with no reported injuries.

The fire was visible from several kilometers away, with a dense column of black smoke rising above the vessel and flames visible across different parts of the resort area. Russian authorities temporarily closed beaches in the Sirius Federal Territory and surrounding Sochi areas as a precautionary measure. Residents were advised to close windows and doors, wear protective masks outdoors, or avoid spending time outside.

Russian environmental monitoring agencies reported no evidence of oil pollution in the Black Sea following the incident. The Transport Ministry stated that pollutant concentrations in the Sirius Federal Territory remained within maximum permissible levels, and no oil leak or threat to the coastline was reported. However, Greenpeace warned of potential environmental risks, noting that a full cargo spillage could exceed previous major incidents.

The open fire was extinguished by October 7, according to Russia's Transport Ministry. Rescue vessels remained on duty, and rescue operations concluded. The incident occurred several hours before Russian President Vladimir Putin's birthday on October 7. Multiple sources identified the tanker as part of Russia's "shadow fleet"—a network of vessels used to maintain Russian oil exports despite international sanctions. Ukraine had previously listed the Aframax Rio among sanctioned vessels in February 2026. While Ukrainian responsibility was not officially claimed by Kyiv, multiple international media outlets and specialized maritime sources attributed the attack to Ukrainian naval drones.