A sanctioned Russian tanker–—the Arctic Metagaz—carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) is drifting unmanned in the Mediterranean. With a gaping hole in its hull, the vessel has prompted urgent warnings of a “major ecological disaster.”
An official in Italy, one of nine European Union member states to write a joint letter to the European Commission urging action, has called the Arctic Metagaz an “environmental bomb” waiting to go off.
The tanker, part of the so-called “shadow fleet” transporting sanctioned Russian energy, was severely damaged in a suspected sea drone strike near Maltese waters earlier this month.
Ukraine has yet to comment on reports suggesting it was responsible for the attack.
