At the center of the latest escalation of the war in the Black Sea is the Cyprus-linked Aframax Rio, which caught fire after an attack by an unmanned vessel off Sochi, with all 23 members of its crew safely evacuated.

The tanker, with a capacity of 107,113 dwt and built in 2004, flies the Liberian flag. Its registered owner is listed as Rio Enterprises SA, while its management and commercial management are handled by Hellenic Tankers, which is linked to Cypriot shipowner and former president of the Cyprus Union of Shipowners, Andreas Hadjiyiannis.

The attack took place on Tuesday, October 6, off the Russian coast of the Black Sea. Russia’s Ministry of Transport announced that the vessel had been hit by an unmanned vessel, causing a major fire to break out.

The first priority was the evacuation of the crew. All 23 sailors, all Indian nationals, were rescued, and no injuries were reported.

The intensity of the fire initially made it difficult for rescue teams to approach. Russian authorities said they had the necessary resources to deal with the incident as soon as conditions allowed the tanker to be approached safely. It was later reported that the fire had been brought under control.

The attack on the Rio is particularly significant because it confirms that the threat to commercial shipping in the Black Sea is no longer limited to port facilities and infrastructure. Commercial vessels involved in Russian oil exports are increasingly finding themselves within the zone of military operations.

In recent years, the Rio has been linked to the transportation of Russian oil from ports in the Baltic and Black Seas to Asian markets. In February 2026, Kyiv added it to Ukraine’s sanctions list of vessels that Ukraine identifies as part of Russia’s “shadow fleet.”

So far, however, Ukraine has not officially claimed responsibility for the attack on the Rio. Therefore, Ukrainian involvement cannot be considered confirmed, despite the fact that the incident comes amid a period of increased attacks against vessels serving Russia’s oil trade.