Russia’s Transport Ministry has confirmed an attack on a Russian gas carrier in the Mediterranean Sea.
The Arctic Metagaz, which was sailing from Murmansk “with cargo documented in full compliance with international rules,” was attacked on March 3 near Malta’s territorial waters, the ministry said Wednesday, March 4.
In a statement posted on the ministry’s Telegram channel, officials alleged the strike was launched from Libya’s coast by Ukrainian uncrewed boats.
“Thanks to the coordinated actions of Maltese and Russian rescue services, all 30 crew members - Russian citizens - were saved,” the statement added.
Moscow also called the incident “an act of international terrorism and maritime piracy,” as well as “a gross violation of the fundamental norms of international maritime law.”
Russian authorities further accused EU countries of “abetting” such actions and urged the international community to weigh in on the incident.
Meanwhile, Libya’s port authority said a Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker sank north of Libya.
It said the Arctic Metagaz had “suffered sudden explosions followed by a major fire, which ultimately led to its complete submersion” later that same day.
A day earlier, media reported a fire on a Russian LNG carrier in the Mediterranean.
Reuters, citing shipping and maritime security sources, reported a suspected attack on the gas carrier by a Ukrainian naval drone.
The Arctic Metagaz last transmitted a signal on the evening of March 2 off Malta.
The vessel had been under sanctions since 2024
The Arctic Metagaz is one of roughly 10 gas carriers used to transport sanctioned LNG from Russia’s Arctic LNG-2 terminal to the port of Beihai on China’s southern coast.
On February 24, the gas carrier left Murmansk after loading and was likely headed toward Egypt’s port of Suez, according to gCaptain.
The ship has been under U.S. and U.K. sanctions since 2024, imposed over Russia’s war against Ukraine.
