A Russian-flagged liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, Arctic Metagaz, was involved in an incident in the Mediterranean Sea, southeast of Malta, prompting a distress call. The ship’s crew of 30 Russian nationals was rescued after abandoning ship, with Malta’s Armed Forces coordinating the rescue efforts in conjunction with Libyan authorities. The vessel, which had departed from Murmansk, Russia, was reportedly carrying a cargo of LNG when it caught fire, though the exact cause remains unclear.
Russia has accused Ukraine of attacking the ship using naval drones launched from Libya’s coast, labeling the incident “an act of international terrorism and maritime piracy”. Ukraine has not publicly commented on the allegations. The Arctic Metagaz is under US and UK sanctions, and its involvement in the incident has raised concerns about energy security and the expansion of the Russia-Ukraine conflict into the Mediterranean.
