The 'Arctic Metagaz', a Russian gas carrier, recently came under scrutiny following accusations from Russian President Vladimir Putin who alleged that Ukraine conducted a 'terrorist attack' against the vessel. Reports initially suggested that the ship was damaged by sudden explosions leading to a large fire and its eventual sinking north of the Libyan port of Sirte. However, official communications from Malta indicate a different outcome, stating that the vessel is adrift and has not sunk completely, contrary to earlier claims.

As per the latest report from Transport Malta published on Thursday, the LNG carrier 'Arctic Metagaz' was confirmed to be unmanned and drifting between Malta and Lampedusa. The ship had been positioned slightly closer to Malta just a day prior, and the provided coordinates confirmed its current location. The attack raises significant concerns as it would represent a rare instance of a successful strike against a Russian vessel located hundreds of miles away from the war in Ukraine, though Ukraine has not commented on the attack itself.

There have been no casualties reported among the 30 crew members, all of whom have reportedly been rescued, as stated by Moscow. The vessel is under international sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union, further complicating the geopolitical implications of this incident and reflecting the ongoing tensions related to the conflict in Ukraine and broader maritime security in the region.