New Delhi, March 19 -- Five southern European nations are seeking an urgent solution for an unmanned Russian tanker drifting in the Mediterranean, warning the European Commission that it poses a major environmental threat, according to a letter confirmed by Spain's government on Wednesday.

The Arctic Metagaz is part of Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" transporting sanctioned fossil fuels. The tanker, carrying liquefied natural gas, was badly damaged in a suspected sea drone attack near Maltese waters earlier this month.

In early March, Russia blamed an attack by Ukrainian sea drones for hitting one of its tankers carrying liquefied natural gas in the Mediterranean Sea off Libya.

In a joint letter sent to European Commission President ...