Ukraine struck an oil tanker off Russia’s southern coast near Sochi, triggering a huge fire and black smoke cloud, according to reports. (Photo/X @HormuzLetter)Ukraine hit an oil tanker off Russia’s Black Sea coast on Tuesday evening (Oct 6), carrying an all-Indian crew, triggering a huge fire and a cloud of black smoke.Russia’s transport ministry said that a Liberian-flagged tanker was attacked by “naval drones” and that “crude oil is burning openly in the waters of the Black Sea.”The blaze was reportedly so intense that the firefighters were initially unable to tackle it.All 23 Indian nationals aboard the vessel were rescued following the incident, with no injuries reported, the authorities said.The incident took place near Sochi, Russia’s popular resort city on the Black Sea coast, which houses a population close to 500,000.Russian Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin convened an emergency response headquarters as officials said that sufficient personnel and equipment were deployed to manage the incident.The authorities temporarily closed beaches in the nearby federal territory of Sirius as a precautionary measure.Story continues below this adSubsequent monitoring in Sochi found pollutant concentrations below permitted limits, with local officials saying there was no immediate danger to public health, according to Russia Today.In a separate incident, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said that two commercial vessels were struck by drones in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea on Tuesday, marking the first such attack in the area.The Bulgarian authorities said that the origin of the drones was under investigation. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy blamed Russia for the strikes.“This is an unacceptable attack in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone. It is a blatant violation of international law and maritime law,” the Bulgarian PM said, condemning the attack.Story continues below this adThe Togo-flagged Alfa Watan sank after suffering critical structural damage in the drone attack, with no immediate word on the crew’s fate, Radev said.The second vessel, the Palau-flagged Able, caught fire after the strike. A Bulgarian ferry rescued all 18 crew members, while two sailors suffered severe injuries and were then flown to a hospital in the port city of Varna.Meanwhile, Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s military conducted no operations near the vessels struck by drones and blamed Russian forces.“This latest tragedy involving civilian vessels is another part of Russia’s effort to make the western Black Sea completely unfit for navigation,” Zelenskyy said. “We verified all the details with the Bulgarian side. Our Navy contacted its counterparts in Bulgaria, and it has been established that this was a combined Russian attack using maritime and aerial drones.”The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on InstagramTags:Russia Ukraine