"Our vessel 'Spasatel Demidov' is extinguishing the fire," the spokesperson said.
As many as eight people have been reported missing following a fire that broke out on board two Tanzania-flagged tankers in the Kerch Strait, the Russian Federal Agency of Maritime and River Transportation (Rosmorrechflot) told Sputnik, amid a search and rescue operation.
According to preliminary information, the fire broke out on Monday during a transfer of liquefied natural gas from one vessel to another.
"Twelve were rescued, 11 bodies were discovered, nine went missing," Rosmorrechflot told Sputnik, specifying that a total of 32 people were on board the two tankers.
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The agency had previously said that there were 31 sailors on board the vessels.