The vessel that caught fire near Sochi is a tanker of Russia's shadow fleet
Near the coast of Sochi, the Aframax Rio oil tanker, which monitoring resources classify as part of Russia's "shadow fleet," caught fire . According to their data, the vessel was transporting crude oil from Novorossiysk to India and was almost fully loaded. The tanker was sailing under the flag of Liberia.
When fully loaded, the Aframax Rio can transport approximately 700-750 thousand barrels of oil, which corresponds to about 95-105 thousand tons, depending on the oil's density and the actual cargo volume.
In February 2026, Ukraine imposed sanctions against this vessel due to suspicions of its use to circumvent restrictions imposed against Russia.
Russian media reported that the tanker's captain requested the evacuation of 23 crew members. There has been no information about fatalities or injuries so far.
Some local channels claimed that there were no sounds of explosions before the fire started. However, reports appeared on social media suggesting that the tanker might have been attacked by uncrewed boats. A rescue operation, carried out under particularly dangerous conditions, was also reported.
The vessel continues to burn. In the darkness, eyewitnesses see flashes of flame, and Sochi's beaches are closed.
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