According to Russia’s Transportation Ministry, a Ukrainian naval drone targeted the Russian-flagged liquefied natural gas tanker, Arctic Metagaz, while it was in the Mediterranean Sea near Malta. The attack reportedly occurred on Tuesday and is said to have caused the ship to catch fire. The ministry emphasized that the tanker was transporting cargo legally from Murmansk, asserting that it was fully compliant with international regulations.

The ministry further alleged that the drone responsible for the attack was launched from the Libyan coast, characterizing the incident as an act of international terrorism and piracy. This framing is likely intended to garner sympathy for Russia's position and to bolster claims about the dangers of Ukrainian actions in international waters.

Fortunately, Maltese and Russian rescue teams successfully evacuated all 30 crew members aboard the Arctic Metagaz. As of now, there has been no immediate response from Ukrainian officials regarding the claim, leaving the situation open to further developments and potential diplomatic repercussions in the region.