There have been a series of explosions involving so-called "shadow fleet" oil tankers, which Russia uses to circumvent Western oil export sanctions.
According to foreign media reports on July 4 (local time), an explosion occurred in the engine room of the Russian oil tanker Villamoura on June 27 while it was sailing in the Mediterranean Sea near Libya. The vessel was registered under the flag of the Marshall Islands in the South Pacific and was transporting crude oil.
Earlier this year, in January and February, similar incidents occurred on four Russian oil tankers, including the Liberian-flagged Koala, which was docked at Russia's Ust-Luga port.
In December last year, the Russian cargo ship Ursa Major, which was carrying two cranes to Syria, exploded and sank in international waters between Spain and Algeria, resulting in the disappearance of two crew members.
German media outlets have reported that explosives appear to have been placed near the engine rooms and have raised suspicions of sabotage by Ukrainian authorities.
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