LNG tankers’ explosion during a super-rare storm: “the most unusual” incident in the Black Sea

• Satellite images showed a photo of the LNG-tanker Marshal Vasilevskiy in the waters of the Baltic Sea
• Russia submitted a complaint to the IMO over the “tanker incident,” and Ukraine responded with a list on 26 June
• Europe is considering whether to launch a case against Russia for violating international law regarding the explosion of LNG tankers

Satellite images show winter conditions in which the LNG-tanker Marshal Vasilevskiy was sailing in the Black Sea. According to the footage, a photo was made “of what looks like the Marshal Vasilevskiy tanker… between the zones where it was sailing.”

In winter, the tanker route is shortened to avoid the most dangerous areas. It is known that Marshal Vasilevskiy set out for the Kaliningrad region with a stop in the “Gazprom Flot LLC” terminal. The data from LSEG indicates that the LNG cargo was transported to the Kaliningrad region, with the route taking place in 2025, while the tanker was in the transit zone, and the route continued in the direction of Estonia.

An analysis by the Bosphorus Observer, which said there was “a ‘crackdown’ on Russia,” claims that the Russian side is signaling the intention to carry out sabotage in the area of the Black Sea. The material also notes that Ukraine has previously accused Russia of carrying out sabotage in the Black Sea, which could be considered a threat to European countries.

Meanwhile, Europe is investigating the incident involving the “tanker.” It is expected that tankers were damaged due to sanctions imposed by Russia as part of the sanctions regime, which could be used to bypass sanctions. Marshal Vasilevskiy, which was flagged as the subject of an attack, has been under British sanctions since 2024. The ship—until early 2025—was also under sanctions by the European Union. Gazprom Flot is also under sanctions by the EU.

Russia submitted a complaint to the IMO over the incident involving the Ukrainian tanker “tanker.” According to Financial Times, in a letter dated June 26, Moscow accused Kyiv of “terrorism” and called for the IMO to investigate. The material also states that the ship is “Arctic Metagaz” which is sailing under the Russian flag and is being used to transport LNG in the Arctic seas.

On 26 June, Ukraine delivered a list of documents to the IMO. The list includes an expert-ministerial report from Oleksiy Kuleba, which states that the tanker could have been damaged by a “sabotage” operation. The report also says that Kuleba is pointing to the role of Russian tankers that were involved in the operation.

It is also noted that the Ukrainian authorities have not ruled out that the Russian LNG tanker did not reach the port of Sevastopol, and that the “tanker” could have been damaged by a “sabotage” operation. It is also expected that the ship could have been damaged by a “sabotage” operation. It is also noted that the Russian LNG tanker could have been damaged by a “sabotage” operation, and that the ship’s route could have been shortened by the use of an alternative route. It is also expected that the report will provide additional information on the incident.

Tags: Russia/Europe/Middle East/Politics/Economy/Energy/Ecology