Russia Blames Ukrainian Sea Drones For Attacking Tanker That Sank In The Mediterranean

CAIRO — A Russian-flagged tanker carrying liquefied earthy state exploded and erupted successful flames earlier sinking successful nan Mediterranean Sea disconnected nan seashore of Libya, authorities successful nan North African state said Wednesday, and Russia blamed nan sinking connected an onslaught by Ukrainian oversea drones.

According to nan Libyan Maritime Authority, location were “sudden explosions, followed by a monolithic fire” connected nan Arctic Metagaz connected Tuesday, while nan LNG bearer was about150 miles disconnected nan seashore of nan Libyan metropolis of Sirte.

The tanker, carrying 61,000 tons of LNG, “completely sank” betwixt Libya and Malta, a connection said. All 30 unit members were rescued and put connected different alloy heading to nan Libyan metropolis of Benghazi, it said.

Russia’s Transport Ministry said that nan alloy was deed by Ukrainian oversea drones launched from nan Libyan coast. Ukrainian officials made nary contiguous remark connected nan accusation.

Previous Ukrainian attacks connected Russian ships person reportedly travel from nan Libyan coast, though Kyiv officials haven’t publically confirmed those reports.

In nan past, Ukraine’s subject has said that it utilized oversea drones to descend Russian vessels successful nan Black Sea arsenic portion of its efforts to conflict backmost against Russia’s full-scale invasion, which began conscionable complete 4 years ago.

Last October, Ukraine’s authorities information work unveiled an upgraded oversea drone, called nan Sea Baby, which it said had a scope of 930 miles and could transportation a warhead up to astir 4,400 pounds.

The tanker was nether Western sanctions, suspected to beryllium portion of Russia’s protector fleet of power tankers trying to bypass sanctions imposed connected Moscow complete its warfare successful Ukraine.

The Metagaz had sailed from nan northwestern Russian metropolis of Murmansk connected nan Barents Sea and was bound for Port Said successful Egypt, connected nan Mediterranean, nan Libyan Maritime Authority said. Its past reported position was successful nan occidental Mediterranean disconnected nan seashore of Malta, according to MarineTraffic, a ship-tracking platform.

Magdy writes for nan Associated Press. AP writer Dasha Litvinov contributed to this study from Tallinn, Estonia.