Ukraine Drone Hits Tanker Off Sochi, 23 Indians Rescued — SkimNews
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- Aframax Rio was attacked by unmanned surface vessels off Russia’s Black Sea coast on October 6, 2026, causing an intense oil fire that prevented immediate firefighting efforts
- Russian Transport Ministry confirmed the vessel's 23-member crew, all Indian nationals, were evacuated safely with no injuries reported in preliminary assessments
- Sochi Mayor Andrey Proshunin temporarily banned access to beaches and sea embankments as a precaution due to the ongoing fire and hazardous conditions
- India’s Ministry of External Affairs expressed grave concern over attacks on commercial shipping in international waters, calling for dialogue to end conflicts disrupting global trade
- External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated India has moved beyond advocacy and is actively engaging both Kyiv and Moscow to help resolve the Ukraine conflict
Why it matters: The attack underscores the growing risk to civilian seafarers and global energy transport in the Black Sea, where neutral vessels are now caught in crossfire. With India escalating direct diplomacy, pressure mounts on both Russia and Ukraine to protect commercial routes vital to world markets.
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