A Russian tanker destroyed by a drone attack in the Mediterranean Sea, between Malta and Italy, is now posing a serious environmental disaster risk due to a large breach in its hull.
The situation has drawn attention because of the vessel’s size and the volume of hazardous cargo on board. It is reportedly carrying around 900 tonnes of diesel and more than 60,000 tonnes of liquefied natural gas.
Beyond the immediate impact on maritime navigation, the scenario significantly increases the risk of fires, leaks, and marine contamination. Italian authorities are also concerned that wind-driven drift could push the damaged vessel even closer to their coastline.
Officials in Italy have described the tanker as a “gas-filled time bomb,” highlighting fears that any deterioration—whether caused by changing weather conditions, structural failure, or a collision—could trigger a large-scale incident.
The vessel, which departed from Murmansk in Russia’s Arctic region, was en route to Egypt when it was struck by a drone on March 3, 2026. According to Reuters, Russia’s Ministry of Transport attributed the attack to Ukrainian naval drones. So far, there has been no official response from Kyiv regarding the accusation.
All 30 crew members were rescued via lifeboat and transported to Benghazi, Libya. However, the ship was subsequently left adrift at sea without direct control. As a result, the situation has shifted from a military incident to a broader issue involving environmental protection and regional security.
Last Friday (13), Italian naval authorities discussed the case in a special session involving ministers of defense, foreign affairs, energy, navy, and civil protection, as well as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Both Italy and Malta have deployed tugboats and anti-pollution assets, ready to intervene if necessary. Ultimately, however, responsibility for salvage operations lies with the vessel’s owner, LLC SMP Techmanagement. So far, neither Italian nor Maltese authorities have confirmed any contact with the company.
+ Poland deploys MiG-29 and intercepts unidentified Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea
Photos: Telegram @war_home. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
