According to a formal statement released by Russia's Ministry of Transport, the vessel was targeted in maritime waters near the Sirius area, adjacent to the Russian resort city of Sochi. The explosion ignited a massive fire that rapidly swept through the structure of the oil carrier, sending thick plumes of black smoke over the sea. Despite severe heat and complex rescue conditions, Russian Coast Guard units managed to evacuate all 23 Indian nationals on board without injuries before marine firefighting vessels brought the blaze under control. Regional authorities immediately declared a state of emergency across the Sirius coastal zone following the strike. While no group has officially claimed responsibility, intelligence reports suggest Ukrainian forces targeted the tanker, as the vessel had previously been placed on Ukraine's maritime sanction list for transporting Russian crude oil.