Russian President Vladimir Putin accuses Ukraine of carrying out a “terrorist attack.”
Published March 4, 2026
A Russian tanker carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) sank in the Mediterranean between Libya and Malta, as Moscow accused Ukraine of attacking the ship.
The Libyan port authority said the tanker was hit by “sudden explosions followed by a massive fire, which ultimately led to its total sinking” on Tuesday night north of the port of Sirte, Libya.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of attacking the gas carrier.
“This is a terrorist attack. This is not the first time we have seen this kind of thing,” Putin told a Russian state television journalist on Wednesday, accusing kyiv of responsibility.
There was no immediate comment from Ukraine.
Russia’s Transport Ministry said the Arctic Metagaz, carrying LNG from the Arctic port of Murmansk, was attacked by Ukrainian naval drones launched from the coast of Libya.
He said the 30 crew members, all Russian nationals, were safe and thanked the Maltese rescue services.
“We characterize what happened as an act of international terrorism and maritime piracy, a serious violation of the fundamental norms of international maritime law,” the ministry said.
According to a notice from Libya’s maritime rescue agency, the Arctic Metagaz sank in waters between Libya and Malta after catching fire on Tuesday night.
He warned ships to avoid the site where the aircraft carrier sank and asked them to report any contamination in the area.
Libya’s port authority said the ship was carrying approximately 62,000 metric tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) on its way to Port Said, Egypt.
Egypt’s Oil Ministry has denied any connection to the tanker.
“The tanker is not listed in any contract to supply or receive LNG cargoes to Egypt,” the ministry said.
The Arctic Metagaz has been sanctioned by the United States and the European Union as part of Russia’s fleet of aging tankers that carry oil and gas exports around the world, bypassing Western restrictions.
Ukraine has frequently attacked Russian oil refineries and other energy infrastructure in an attempt to defund the Russian war machine.
In December, Ukraine said it had attacked a Russian oil tanker with aerial drones in neutral waters of the Mediterranean Sea, the first such attack there in the more than four-year war between Russia and Ukraine.
