The Cyprus-linked tanker Aframax Rio has been caught up in the latest escalation in the Black Sea after being struck by an unmanned vessel and catching fire off the coast of Sochi.
According to protothema.gr, all 23 crew members, who are Indian nationals, were safely evacuated from the vessel and no injuries were reported.
The attack took place on Tuesday, 6 October, off Russia's Black Sea coast. Russia's Transport Ministry said the tanker was struck by an unmanned vessel, causing a major fire.
Evacuating the crew was the immediate priority, while the intensity of the blaze initially made it difficult for rescue teams to approach the ship.
Russian authorities said they had the necessary resources to respond to the incident once conditions allowed crews to safely approach the tanker. It was later reported that the fire had been brought under control.
According to protothema.gr, the Aframax Rio, built in 2004 with a capacity of 107,113 dwt, sails under the Liberian flag.
Its registered owner is listed as Rio Enterprises SA, while its management and commercial management are handled by Hellenic Tankers, which is linked to Cypriot shipowner and former president of the Cyprus Union of Shipowners Andreas Hadjiyiannis.
Another confirmation that the month-long pause in Ukrainian attacks on merchant vessels in the Black Sea is clearly over. An Aframax tanker, AFRAMAX RIO (~100K mt DWT), fully loaded with oil for India, was reportedly hit near Sochi this afternoon. #oatt #sizovreport #wheat #blacksea
— Andrey Sizov (@sizov_andre) October 6, 2026
Linked to Russian oil shipments
The attack takes on added significance amid the increasing exposure of commercial shipping to military operations in the Black Sea, as vessels involved in Russian oil exports increasingly find themselves within the conflict zone.
The Rio has in recent years been linked to shipments of Russian oil from Baltic and Black Sea ports to markets in Asia.
In February 2026, Kyiv added the vessel to a Ukrainian sanctions list targeting ships it considers part of Russia's “shadow fleet”.
Ukraine has not, however, officially claimed responsibility for the attack on the Rio. Ukrainian involvement in the incident therefore remains unconfirmed.
The incident comes amid an increase in attacks targeting vessels involved in Russia's oil trade.
Source: Protothema
