A serious incident involving a Russian energy vessel has been reported in the Mediterranean Sea. The Arctic Metagaz, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker, is engulfed in flames, and the fate of the crew remains unknown. The vessel was previously placed on US and UK sanctions lists, linking it to the so-called "shadow fleet" used to transport resources in defiance of international restrictions. According to maritime tracking data, the tanker last transmitted its coordinates on Monday while off the coast of Malta, after which contact with the vessel was suddenly lost.

Maritime security experts are not ruling out the possibility of deliberate sabotage. Specifically, the possibility of an attack using unmanned naval vehicles is being discussed. International circles have speculated about Ukraine's involvement in this operation, but no official confirmation has been provided to date. Russian government agencies, as well as Ukrainian representatives, are currently refraining from making official comments regarding the incident. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the burning LNG vessel poses a significant threat to environmental safety in the region and carries the risk of a powerful explosion in a busy shipping lane. Search and rescue operations are currently hampered by the lack of up-to-date data on the precise location of the drifting tanker.