Putin accuses Ukraine of attacking gas tanker that exploded and sank off Libya

The Arctic Metagaz burst into flames before sinking after what the Russian president described as a terrorist attack

Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of carrying out a terrorist attack on one of Russia's liquefied natural gas carriers which exploded into flames and sank in the Mediterranean Sea off Libya.

The Arctic Metagaz had been sanctioned by the US and EU for being part of Moscow's shadow fleet" of ageing tankers that carry its oil and gas around the world, skirting Western restrictions.