Overview

• The incident occurred near the port of Ust-Luga, west of St. Petersburg, when the tanker experienced engine room damage during motor startup.
• All 24 crew members safely evacuated to shore, with no reported injuries.
• Russian authorities confirmed no oil leakage from the tanker, despite earlier concerns about potential environmental risks.
• The tanker, flagged under Antigua and Barbuda, is speculated to be part of Russia's shadow fleet used to circumvent Western oil sanctions.
• This follows previous maritime incidents involving Russian oil tankers, including two sinkings in the Black Sea in December 2024 that caused significant environmental damage.