Arctic LNG Carrier Sinks in Mediterranean, Blamed on Ukrainian Drones
Moscow blamed Ukrainian naval drones from Libyan coast for the attack, calling it international terrorism and piracy.
All 30 crew rescued by Maltese and Russian forces after March 3 distress calls, then placed on vessel to Benghazi.
Sinking reduces Arctic LNG-2 export capacity by removing sanctioned carrier from shadow fleet.
First LNG carrier sunk by major fire, prompting reassessment of Mediterranean and Suez routes.
Arctic Metagaz previously transited Northern Sea Route and conducted rare February 18 transfer near Murmansk.