Today, March 3, the Russian-flagged liquefied natural gas tanker Arctic Metagaz caught fire in the Mediterranean Sea. The vessel is subject to US and UK sanctions, and the fate of its crew is currently unknown.
This was reported by Reuters, citing sources in the field of shipping and maritime security.
The ship, which is under US and British sanctions, last reported its location on Monday — off the coast of Malta, according to ship tracking data on the MarineTraffic platform.
One source, without providing evidence, said the ship may have been attacked by a naval drone, with Ukraine suspected of carrying out the operation.
The Russian ship management company LLC SMP Techmanagement, Russian LNG producer Novatek, and the Russian Ministry of Transport did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Ukrainian Security Service has not yet responded to a request for comment.
В Средиземном море горит российский газовоз Arctic Metagaz https://t.co/TuVXeiWxG9 pic.twitter.com/bvjka1EL7j
— The Insider (@the_ins_ru) March 3, 2026