Eight EU countries have expressed concerns to the European Commission about a damaged Russian LNG tanker adrift in the Mediterranean, citing significant environmental risks.
Italy, France, and seven other European Union nations have issued a warning regarding the Arctic Metagaz, a damaged Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier that is currently adrift in the Mediterranean Sea. This vessel was reportedly struck by Ukrainian naval drones on March 3, near the territorial waters of Malta. The EU members highlighted in their correspondence to the European Commission that the precarious condition of the tanker, combined with the hazardous nature of its LNG cargo, poses an imminent threat of a severe ecological disaster in European waters.
Furthermore, they expressed significant concern over the potential impact of any response action on EU sanctions against Russia. The letter indicated that while monitoring and technical assistance may be necessary, these actions could risk undermining the effectiveness of the strict sanctions that the EU has imposed on Russia to curb its energy exports. The Arctic Metagaz has already been sanctioned by the EU, U.S., and the U.K. as it is part of Russia's
