Russian officials inspect LNG tanker allegedly struck by Ukraine near Malta (VIDEO)

RT.com
26 May 2026, 10:16 GMT+10

The vessel was targeted in the Mediterranean Sea in March, Moscow said

The Russian Investigative Committee (Sledcom) released video on Monday showing the wreckage of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker that it said was struck by Ukrainian drones in the Mediterranean Sea.

According to investigators, the Russian-flagged vessel Arctic Metagaz was targeted by aerial and seaborne drones on March 3 between the coasts of Malta and Libya. The ship suffered "significant damage" and caught fire, while its control systems and two LNG storage tanks were destroyed. Two crew members were injured.

Sledcom is treating the incident as an act of terrorism, spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko said.

The ship, which was sailing from the Russian Arctic port of Murmansk to China, had been sanctioned by the EU.

Although Kiev has not commented on the alleged attack on the Arctic Metagaz, Ukrainian security officials have previously claimed responsibility for similar strikes on Russia-linked tankers in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. Last year, the Security Service of Ukraine told the Kyiv Post that its naval drones had struck two oil tankers off the Turkish coast.

Russia has denied operating a so-called "shadow fleet" to evade Western sanctions and condemned the attacks on ships as a further escalation of the conflict.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to St Petersburg Star.

More Information

Russia

Section

Trump’s decision to send troops to Poland has NATO allies puzzled

HELSINGBORG, Sweden: U.S. President Donald Trump's turnaround on sending 5,000 U.S. troops to Poland just weeks after ordering the...

Equinor warns Europe gas stocks could turn critical

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands: Europe could face a serious gas shortage if shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz continue for...

US missile defense shield criticized by China, Russia in Beijing

BEIJING, China: A week after President Xi Jinping hosted Trump in Beijing, China and Russia, at a summit on May 20, condemned U.S....

Russian officials inspect LNG tanker allegedly struck by Ukraine near Malta (VIDEO)

The vessel was targeted in the Mediterranean Sea in March, Moscow said The Russian...

(SP)RUSSIA-KALININGRAD-CHINA RUSSIA SUMMER YOUTH GAMES

(260526) -- KALININGRAD, May 26, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Actors perform during the opening ceremony of the 10th China-Russia Summer Youth...

Fewer Germans buying into warnings of Russian attack poll

Only 38% of respondents believe that Moscow poses a military threat, compared to 52% last September, according to Bild The number...

International

Section