Overview
- The damaged Arctic Metagaz is drifting with severe list and intermittent fires after March 3 explosions, carrying about 450 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, 250 tonnes of diesel, and significant gas in its tanks.
- AFP images placed the vessel roughly 50 nautical miles southwest of Malta, with Russian officials reporting worsening tilt and occasional detonations on board.
- Moscow accuses Ukraine of a sea‑drone attack, a claim Kyiv has not addressed publicly, and says all 30 crew members were rescued.
- Malta has issued navigational warnings while Italy convened a crisis meeting, positioned a naval tug and a pollution‑response ship nearby, and is weighing a tow farther offshore.
- The tanker appears on EU and US sanctions lists as part of Russia’s shadow fleet, complicating coordination, as Russia cites international law to press coastal states and NGOs like WWF warn of long‑term ecological damage.