Massive Smoke Plume As Tanker Erupts In Flames, Spills Oil Off Russia's Sochi Coast

The Black Sea tanker wars have continued Tuesday. In the latest tit-for-tat episode, a large so-called ‘shadow fleet’ tanker is ablaze close to the Russian Black Sea port of Sochi.

The vessel, identified in reports as likely being the Aframax Rio, which was previously sanctioned by Ukraine for alleged involvement in Russian oil exports, is producing a massive smoke plume and has been photographed and filmed by shocked onlookers at Sochi’s shores. Images like the below are widely circulating on Russian Telegram channels.

Russian regional authorities in nearby Sirius have since confirmed in a public announcement that a tanker had caught fire in the Black Sea.

Reuters writes that “The beaches in the settlement in Russia’s south Krasnodar region are closed to the public, the authorities said, without giving any details of the cause of the fire.”

Some open source media accounts have described that the Liberian-flagged oil tanker was “loaded almost to the brim” transporting crude oil from Russia to India.

Speculation is growing that it was hit by uncrewed surface vessels while carrying its crude cargo.

An Oil Tanker “loaded almost to the brim” carrying crude oil from Russia to India 🇮🇳 is seen completely on fire 🔥 off the coast of Sochi An estimated $70 million of oil, or 760,000 barrels of oil, was loaded into the Shadow Fleet tanker This is massive https://t.co/TLEJGBMoGq

— Ukraine Battle Map (@ukraine_map) October 6, 2026

Maritime Executive says that the fire is so extensive likely due to significant oil spillage.

Another image circulating…

“The vessel is readily visible from shore, and multiple videos depicting the fire have appeared on Russian social media channels,” the maritime publication writes.

“The bystander-image sequence begins with a substantial fire centered on cargo tanks amidships, followed by obvious signs of burning oil spreading aft down the starboard side,” it adds. “Later videos and photos show a large pool of burning oil on the water aft of the vessel and a towering column of smoke.”