Russian Oil Tanker 'Koala' Suffers Engine Room Explosions in Baltic Sea

The tanker, carrying 130,000 tons of heating oil, avoided an environmental disaster as no oil was reported to have leaked.

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.