Rescued members of the crew of the tanker Gas Lisbon, which became a victim of an attack off the coast of Romania, have shared details of the incident for the first time. According to their testimony, the vessel was struck by three unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), resulting in serious damage and the need for an emergency evacuation.

According to information published by Digi24 and reported by RBC-Ukraine, two sailors who survived the incident confirmed the version involving the use of drones. Their accounts help reconstruct the chronology of the tragic events that took place at night.

Chronology of the attack: from the first explosion to rescue

Alexander Megrelishvili, a crew member from Georgia who was in his cabin at the time of the attack, described the moment he felt the first explosion. According to him, the tanker's hull was struck three times in total. Despite the panic and stressful situation, the ship's crew did not lose their composure and immediately began carrying out emergency procedures.

The sailors organized the evacuation themselves and began assisting three injured colleagues. Another rescued crew member, Alexander Arro, specified the time the attack began — around 23:00. In his assessment, the attack scenario unfolded in two stages:

  • First, the vessel was attacked by two drones: one hit the engine room, and the second hit the living quarters where the crew's cabins were located.
  • The third strike occurred approximately three hours after the initial hits, indicating the prolonged nature of the incident.

Waiting for help and the crew's actions

One of the key points in the sailors' story was the arrival time of the rescuers. Alexander Arro noted that Romanian services arrived at the scene only four to five hours after the attack began. During this critical period, the crew was left to fend for themselves.

It was during these hours, while the tanker was burning and losing power, that the crew independently carried out actions to save lives and minimize the consequences of the damage sustained. The situation was critical, as the vessel was located approximately 20 nautical miles from the Romanian coast.

Context of the incident

Recall that news of the damage to the Liberian-flagged tanker became known on July 21. This was announced by the President of Romania. The vessel was traveling from Alexandria, Egypt, to the Ukrainian port of Reni. The attack occurred in Romanian territorial waters, causing a wide resonance and raising questions about shipping safety in the region.