The crew hoisted two black spheres, signaling it was not under control of its movements, yet declined assistance from other nearby Russian ships and told a Togolese-flagged cargo vessel, the Milla Moon, to keep its distance.
Thick black smoke and flames were reportedly seen coming from the ship’s funnel, indicating a possible engine-room fire. The blaze was contained after about five hours. French and other Western naval forces monitored the situation, ready to intervene, but Russia did not request aid.
“We seem to have avoided the worst,” a French naval officer told RFI, adding it was uncertain whether the Kildin could continue its intelligence-gathering mission.
The ship, which left a Baltic Sea base in the fall of 2024 and entered the Mediterranean in mid-November, had reportedly conducted surveillance near Spain, France, Italy, and more recently Turkey, before disappearing from radar on December 17.
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Source: RMF24