Italy warns stricken Russian tanker could explode in Med at any time
But Ukraine sees such "shadow" Russian tankers as legitimate targets: they routinely sail with their transponders turned off to evade Western sanctions and the money Moscow makes from the oil and gas helps fund its ongoing war on Ukraine.Russia has also been bombing Ukraine's civilian energy infrastructure since the start of its full-scale invasion, leaving huge numbers of people without hot water or heating in the depths of winter.Recently, the number and scope of drone strikes on Russian tankers has been increasing.In December, the Ukraine's SBU intelligence service said it had crippled three vessels in two weeks in the Black Sea, including the Dashan which it said had suffered "critical damage". Just over a week later, the Quendil oil tanker was hit in the Mediterranean.It was said to be empty at the time.It is now two weeks since the Arctic Metagaz was badly damaged by a series of explosions and fire. The crew were located and rescued by the Libyan coastguard.Libyan port officials said initially that the tanker had sunk, but it has been floating, unmanned and dangerous ever since.The World Wildlife Fund has said it is on "maximum alert", warning that a potential spill could cause fires and long-lasting pollution in an area of "exceptional ecological value" that is home to numerous protected species.
