Moscow/Washington — Russia has strongly protested the seizure of the Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera by US naval and Coast Guard forces in the North Atlantic on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, demanding immediate guarantees for the safety, humane treatment, and prompt return of its citizens aboard the vessel.
The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a stern statement condemning the boarding as a blatant violation of international maritime law, specifically the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which establishes freedom of navigation in international waters. "No state has the right to use force against ships properly registered in the jurisdictions of other states," the ministry asserted, emphasizing that the incident occurred in open seas outside any country's territorial waters.
According to Russia's Transport Ministry, contact with the Marinera was lost around 3:00 p.m. Moscow time (1200 GMT) when US forces boarded the ship. The vessel had received a temporary permit to sail under the Russian state flag on December 24, 2025, in full compliance with national and international regulations, officials in Moscow claimed.
The seizure marks a dramatic escalation in US efforts to enforce sanctions on Venezuelan oil exports, coming just days after a controversial US military operation in Caracas that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on January 3, 2026. That raid, dubbed "Operation Absolute Resolve," involved elite US troops breaching Maduro's fortified compound in a pre-dawn assault, stunning the international community and drawing widespread condemnation for its unilateral nature.
US officials confirmed the boarding of the Marinera—previously known as the M/V Bella 1—citing alleged violations of longstanding sanctions targeting illicit Venezuelan crude shipments. The tanker, part of the so-called "dark fleet" used to evade restrictions, had been under surveillance for weeks after departing Venezuelan waters loaded with oil. It reportedly changed its name and reflagged to Russia in late December in an attempt to dodge detection, a move US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described as a "desperate and failed attempt" to circumvent the blockade.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed the Trump administration's hardline stance, stating that the "blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in full effect—anywhere in the world." The operation involved a prolonged pursuit across the Atlantic, with US aviation assets deployed from the United Kingdom and coordination with allies, including intelligence support that tracked the vessel's movements between Iceland and Scotland.
Reports indicate that a second tanker, stateless and also linked to Venezuelan oil, was seized simultaneously in the Caribbean, underscoring the broadened scope of US enforcement actions following the Maduro intervention. The US has positioned these measures as necessary to dismantle what it calls Maduro's "criminal enterprise" and recover assets allegedly stolen from American interests, while facilitating a transition in Venezuela.
Moscow's response has been swift and uncompromising. The Foreign Ministry called on Washington to "ensure humane and dignified treatment of Russian citizens on the ship Marinera, and respect their rights and interests." Russian officials have invoked diplomatic channels to seek clarification and the crew's immediate release, warning that the incident could strain bilateral relations further amid already heightened global tensions.
The Marinera's reflagging has become a focal point of contention. US authorities argue that the change was fraudulent, rendering the vessel effectively stateless and subject to interdiction under international sanctions regimes. Russian counterparts insist the registration was legitimate and temporary, aimed at lawful commercial operations.
This confrontation unfolds against the backdrop of the recent US strikes and capture in Venezuela, which have reshaped hemispheric dynamics. The January 3 operation saw US forces rapidly extract Maduro and Flores, who were subsequently arraigned in a New York federal court on charges including narco-terrorism and corruption. The Trump administration has declared intentions to oversee Venezuela's oil resources during a transitional period, prompting accusations of resource grabs from critics.
International reactions vary sharply. Allies like the United Kingdom provided logistical support for the tanker pursuit, while others have decried the actions as extraterritorial overreach. The United Nations scheduled an emergency session to address the Venezuela intervention, with several members questioning the legality of both the Caracas raid and high-seas boardings.
Maritime experts note that seizures of flagged vessels in international waters are rare and legally contentious, typically requiring evidence of piracy, slavery, or statelessness. Russia has signaled it may pursue remedies through the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea or other forums.
As of Wednesday evening, the Marinera was under US control and en route to a friendly port for further inspection, with its crew—primarily Russian nationals—reported safe but detained. No injuries were reported during the boarding, which involved special forces and Coast Guard law enforcement teams.
The incident highlights the risks of "dark fleet" operations, where aging tankers obscure origins to transport sanctioned commodities, often involving Iran, Russia, and Venezuela. Enhanced US monitoring, including satellite tracking and aerial surveillance, has led to multiple interdictions in recent months.
With geopolitical fault lines deepening, analysts warn that such confrontations could escalate into broader maritime disputes, particularly involving major powers like Russia and the US. Moscow's demands underscore concerns for its seafarers, while Washington defends the actions as vital to enforcing sanctions and promoting regional stability post-Maduro.
The situation remains fluid, with diplomatic negotiations underway to resolve the crew's status and the vessel's fate.
