A drone strike by Ukraine hit an oil tanker off the southern Russian coast, triggering a large fire and black smoke cloud over Sochi. The incident occurred on Tuesday evening, according to Russian officials. The tanker, flagged under Liberia, was attacked near the Black Sea, a region where both sides have targeted commercial shipping since the start of the conflict in 2022.
Russia’s transport ministry confirmed the attack, stating that the vessel was hit by “naval forces.” The fire spread rapidly, creating a thick smoke cloud that blanketed parts of the resort city. Local authorities reported no immediate casualties, though the situation remains under review. The attack follows a series of similar incidents in the Black Sea, including the sinking of ships off Romania and Bulgaria in recent days.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Ukraine and Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of orchestrating attacks on commercial vessels and warned of an impending “massive strike.” Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that the risk of a plague epidemic remains low, following the death of a lab worker in Siberia. Russian officials have also denied any plague outbreak, citing negative test results among contacts of the deceased.
The Black Sea has become a focal point of the war, with both sides targeting shipping lanes to disrupt supply lines. The recent attacks highlight the ongoing escalation of conflict into commercial and maritime sectors, raising concerns about the safety of global trade routes.
