Sochi Reopens Beaches After Drone Attack on Oil Tanker

Oct. 8, 2026 Smoke from a burning tanker at sea near Sochi. @exilenova_plus / Telegram Authorities in Russia’s Black Sea resort city of Sochi reopened beaches Thursday, saying tests found no oil contamination after a drone attack set an oil tanker ablaze off the coast earlier this week. Sochi and the neighboring federal territory of Sirius closed their beaches on Tuesday after the Liberian-flagged Aframax Rio caught fire following an attack by Ukrainian naval drones. Sochi’s administration said seawater samples taken across the city met sanitary standards, according to consumer protection watchdog Rospotrebnadzor. Satellite monitoring also found no oil slicks, it added. Sirius administration head Dmitry Plishkin said tests found no traces of oil in seawater and air pollution levels remained within permitted limits. The tanker was attacked on the evening of Oct. 6. Russia’s Transportation Ministry said burning oil prevented rescue vessels from approaching the ship. The flames were extinguished on Wednesday. All 23 crew members, who were Indian nationals, were rescued. The amount of oil aboard the tanker has not been disclosed. The Mash Telegram news channel, citing unidentified sources, reported that the vessel was fully loaded. The tanker continued to drift along the coast after the fire. Its operator, Executive Ship Management, said Wednesday that officials and two senior crew members had started inspecting the vessel to assess its condition. Built in 2004, the Aframax Rio is 247 meters long and 42 meters wide, with a deadweight capacity of 107,100 metric tons. According to the investigative outlet The Insider, the tanker has called at Russian Black Sea ports and is under Ukrainian sanctions. Kyiv has linked it to Russia’s “shadow fleet,” a network of tankers used to transport oil and circumvent sanctions. This article was translated with the help of artificial intelligence and was reviewed by a Moscow Times editor before publication. Learn more about our newsroom's AI policy here. Read this article in Russian at The Moscow Times' Russian service. Read more about: Sochi , Ukraine war , Drones Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Ukrainian Drone Attacks Spark Fires at Sochi Fuel Depots Local authorities said drone debris had fallen at multiple locations in the Black Sea port city, sparking several fires. 1 Min read Feature 'A Bit Unusual': Russia's Sochi Resort Grapples With Ukrainian Drones Disruptions to daily life have become more frequent in this summer escape on the Black Sea as Ukraine ups its long-range drone strikes on Russia. 3 Min read Ukrainian Drones Spark Fire at Sochi Oil Depot Overnight, 127 firefighters were working to extinguish the blaze, according to a local official. 2 Min read 2 Killed in Ukrainian Drone Attack Near Sochi Olympic Village Authorities said debris from a downed drone fell in the town of Adler, just south of Sochi, after it was intercepted by Russian air defense systems. 1 Min read