Russia blames Ukrainian drones for attack on LNG ship

Russia's transport ministry on Wednesday accused Ukrainian naval drones of attacking a Russian liquefied natural gas carrier, ​the Arctic Metagaz, which caught fire in the Mediterranean a day ​earlier, Reuters reported.

If confirmed, it would be the first time that Ukraine has attacked a Russian LNG carrier.

The Security Service of Ukraine did ​not respond to a request for comment.

Ukraine has frequently targeted Russian oil ​refineries and other energy infrastructure in an attempt to deprive Russia's war machine of funding.

The incident adds to the uncertainty on the global markets, already rattled by ​war in Iran.

Russia's transport ministry said all 30 crew members, who were ​Russian nationals, were safe.

"We qualify what happened as an act of international terrorism and ‌maritime piracy, a gross violation of the fundamental norms of international maritime law," the ministry said in a statement.

It said the vessel, which had been carrying a cargo from the Russian Arctic port of Murmansk, was ​attacked near international waters ​belonging to Malta and thanked Maltese rescue services.

Ukrainian naval drones had launched their attack from the coast of Libya, the ​ministry said.

Libya's National Oil Corporation said it had no ​involvement with the LNG carrier, adding that it was on a journey from Murmansk in Russia towards Port Said in Egypt.

The vessel's Russia-based manager LLC SMP Techmanagement and ​Russia's largest LNG producer Novatek have not ​yet commented on the incident.