THIS is the dramatic moment an apocalyptic blaze burns at sea after Ukraine blasts one of Vladimir Putin’s shadow fleet tankers.
A colossal column of black smoke could be seen towering above the enormous burning boat in the .
Tourists in the Russian resort of Sochi were ordered to stay inside as thick smog filled the air.
Putin’s shadow fleet tankers secretly ship around the world to slip past sanctions and illegally earn to pour into the dictator’s bloody war in .
The Liberian-flagged Aframax Rio tanker, sanctioned by Ukraine, is thought to have been targeted by naval .
Russian authorities have not yet commented on the embarrassing Black Sea blast.
The attack on a ship, in full view of rich Russian’s holidaying in Sochi, has been dubbed an “early Ukrainian birthday gift for “.
The ageing tyrant turns 74 on Wednesday, and the flaming tanker would have been in full view of his official residence in Sochi, Bocharov Ruchey.
Sochi has faced increasing blitzes in recent months, with Ukraine blasting its oil depot and port last month alone.
Earlier today, Russians blasted a Marshall Islands-flagged merchant ship in the Black Sea, killing at least one crew member.
And two ships were blitzed 70 miles off the coast of Bulgaria , in the state’s exclusive economic zone.
One ship sunk within minutes and another was set ablaze.
Two crew members were severely injured in the strikes with several still missing.
It was thought to be the first attack in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone.
European Commission President condemned the blasts, saying that attacks on commercial shipping are unacceptable.
‘s Prime Minister Rumen Radev said: “If this war is not brought to an end in time, it will continue to expand its geographical scope and increase the risk of even a global conflict.”
Maritime security sources told The Independent it was likely a Russian attack.
It comes just one day after a Turkish-owned cargo ship was left sinking and on fire , killing two.
The cargo ship had been carrying grain from Ukraine to Italy when it was set ablaze in a horror drone attack.
Romanian officials did not confirm who fired the drones – but President Volodymr Zelensky blasted the Kremlin for the attack.
