The damaged Russian tanker near Libya threatened with an ecological disaster

GNU Transport Minister Mohamed Al-Shahubi said in a video statement that the Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC) is in charge of unloading the cargo of the Russian tanker and is coordinating through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the ​​Russian and Maltese authorities to take measures to ensure the safety of maritime navigation in the Mediterranean basin.

The NOC later said in a statement about the towing operation that “so far there has been no leakage of cargo”, adding that the environmental situation is safe and there are no indications of immediate risks.

A video released Tuesday by the Tripoli-based GNU media platform Hakomitna shows a frigate towing a tanker through a thick line of water.

The commander of operations of the central sector of the coast guard and security of the port, Omar Mohamed Omar Al-Tuvair, said in a video that the abandoned tanker was towed from the shores of Zuwara.

“We are assuring our people throughout Libya in general, and especially in the western coastal areas, especially in Zuwara and Sabrata, that the competent authorities are making every effort to deal with the situation,” said Tuvair.

The authorities have not yet revealed the final destination of the tanker.

The Russian Ministry of Transport announced that the drones that hit the tanker were launched from Libya. Neither Ukraine nor Libya have commented on the incident.