The ship was part of Russia's shadow fleet and was carrying approximately 100,000 tonnes, or $70 million, of crude oil at the time of the strike. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed responsibility for the attack, which saw all 23 Indian crew members rescued without injury. Military observers note the strike marks a tactical shift for Kyiv, moving from targeting mostly empty vessels to attacking fully laden commercial shipping in the Black Sea.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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Shadow Fleet Tanker Aframax Rio Runs Aground in Black Sea
War10 days ago
The damaged oil tanker once transporting Russian crude to India has apparently become a total loss after striking the seabed off the coast of Sochi. Recent video footage and imagery published by maritime monitors show the Aframax Rio resting in shallow waters, suggesting the vessel will be unable to return to service or deliver its petroleum cargo. The grounding follows a naval drone attack on Oct. 6 that ignited an oil spill and left the Liberian-flagged ship disabled.
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