Ukrainian Drone Boats Allegedly Strike Russian Shadow LNG Tanker in Mediterranean, Widening Conflict

The Russian-flagged LNG tanker Arctic Metagaz, identified as part of Russia's shadow fleet, suffered a series of explosions while transiting the Mediterranean Sea between Malta and Libya. Multiple sources described a "huge explosion on board," with the UK-based global security risk firm EOS Risk Group attributing the incident to a drone attack. Reuters corroborates this, reporting the tanker may have been hit by a drone, with Ukraine suspected of carrying out the operation. This event follows a pattern of escalating maritime attacks. Last December, Ukraine struck the Russian-linked tanker Qendil with kamikaze drones in the Mediterranean, marking the first shadow fleet tanker strike outside the Black Sea. Moscow has also claimed Ukraine hit one of its tankers off West Africa. Concurrently, Reuters reports three crude oil tankers have been damaged by blasts in the Mediterranean area with unknown causes. These incidents occur against a backdrop of broader regional conflict, with the US-Iran tensions impacting the critical Strait of Hormuz, where the IRGC has targeted numerous oil and gas infrastructure assets and multiple tankers.