UAV event in Krasnodar Krai, Sochi area, Russian Federation on Tue 6th October 2026

🔥🚢A massive fire is burning near the Russian Black Sea port of Sochi in Krasnodar Krai after an oil tanker was hit. 

Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker Burns off Sochi After Black Sea Attack.

In brief: A Liberian-flagged oil tanker linked by Ukraine to Russia’s shadow fleet caught fire off Sochi after what Russian authorities described as an attack by an unmanned vessel. All 23 crew members were rescued as flames and thick black smoke spread across the coast.

A Liberian-flagged oil tanker caught fire off Russia’s Black Sea resort city of Sochi on Tuesday evening after what Russian authorities described as an attack by an unmanned vessel, sending flames and thick black smoke over the coastline.

Russia’s Transport Ministry said the Aframax Rio was struck at sea and that crude oil was burning in the Black Sea. All 23 crew members – Indian nationals – were rescued without injuries. Firefighters initially struggled to approach the vessel because of the intensity of the blaze.

Videos and photos circulating on Russian social media showed bright orange flames offshore and a towering column of black smoke visible from Sochi.

The blaze was intense enough to prevent firefighters from immediately tackling it, AFP reported.

Beaches closed as smoke spreads

Authorities restricted access to beaches and sections of the coastline as smoke from the burning tanker spread toward Sochi.

The fire was visible from across the resort city, while emergency services monitored the vessel and surrounding waters.

The incident brought the escalating Black Sea maritime conflict directly to Russia’s southern coast, where shipping and energy infrastructure have increasingly come under threat.

Tanker on Ukraine’s sanctions list

The Aframax Rio has been identified by Ukraine as part of Russia’s so-called shadow fleet – a network of tankers used to keep Russian oil exports moving despite Western sanctions, price caps and other restrictions imposed after Moscow’s full-scale invasion.

Kyiv sanctioned the vessel in February, saying ships in the network help Russia preserve vital energy revenues that fund its war against Ukraine.