The European Union has sounded the alarm over an abandoned Russian tanker filled with fuel and gas.
At least nine EU countries have written a letter to the European Commission regarding the potential risks of fuel and gas leaks from the tanker currently floating in the waters between Malta and Italy in the Mediterranean.
An Italian official described the tanker as an “environmental bomb” that could “explode at any moment.”
The letter states that the injured cargo ship presents an imminent and serious risk of a major ecological disaster in the heart of EU waters.
The damaged ship was part of Russia’s ghost fleet that aimed to find a way around the EU against Russia following its attack on Ukraine in 2022.
The ship left the Russian port of Murmansk in February and was carrying 700 tonnes of different types of fuel, including a significant amount of natural gas.
The ship was reportedly attacked and caught fire in March; however, Ukraine did not take responsibility for any attacks. There was a 30-member crew on board the tanker, which remained safe.
Russia condemned the incident, calling it an act of “international terrorism and maritime piracy.”
The ship was reportedly attacked near Malta, in international waters, by Ukrainian drones launched from the Libyan coast.
