Overview
- Libya’s maritime authority said the Arctic Metagaz suffered sudden explosions and a massive fire north of Sirte before sinking between Libya and Malta.
- All 30 crewmembers were located in a lifeboat within Libya’s search-and-rescue region and transferred to another vessel, according to Maltese and Libyan officials.
- Russia’s transport ministry and President Vladimir Putin blamed Ukraine for a naval‑drone attack launched from the Libyan coast, while Kyiv has not commented and investigators have offered no confirmation.
- Tracking data indicated the Russian‑flagged ship, under U.S. and UK sanctions and linked to the shadow fleet, had deactivated AIS after departing Murmansk with LNG bound for Port Said.
- Security analysts say environmental harm is unlikely because the cargo was LNG, and note that if a drone strike on an LNG carrier is confirmed it would signal a significant escalation in maritime risk.