Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of a terrorist attack on the LNG carrier Arctic Metagaz, which exploded and sank in the Mediterranean Sea off Libya, heightening global energy market concerns.
Arctic Metagaz sinks after explosion
The Arctic Metagaz, carrying 61,000 tons of liquefied natural gas, caught fire and sank about 150 miles off Sirte, Libya, following “sudden explosions” reported by the Libyan Maritime Authority. All 30 crew members were rescued and transferred to a vessel bound for Benghazi.
Putin described the incident as a terrorist attack and claimed it was part of Ukraine’s campaign to disrupt Russian energy shipments. Russia’s transport ministry said the tanker had been hit by Ukrainian sea drones launched from the Libyan coast, although Kyiv has not commented.
Ukrainian drone capabilities
Ukraine has previously used sea drones in the Black Sea to target Russian vessels. In December, it reportedly struck a Russian tanker in the Mediterranean with aerial drones. Ukraine’s state security service unveiled the upgraded Sea Baby drone in October, capable of a 930-mile range and carrying up to two tonnes of explosives.
Energy and geopolitical implications
The Arctic Metagaz had departed from Murmansk in north-western Russia and was headed to Port Said, Egypt. Putin warned that attacks like this “exacerbate the situation on global energy markets, including gas markets.”
He also suggested Russia might shift gas exports away from Europe, following EU plans to ban Russian oil imports. “Perhaps it would be more profitable for us to stop supplying the European market and move into those markets that are opening up,” Putin said, emphasising that no formal decision has been made yet.
Broader context
The tanker had been sanctioned by the US and EU as part of Moscow’s “shadow fleet” of ageing vessels bypassing Western restrictions. The incident comes amid heightened tensions over Russian energy supplies to Europe and ongoing military conflict with Ukraine.
Also read: Putin threatens to cut Europe’s gas supply over Iran war
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