The Russian Foreign Ministry has warned that the seizure of the Russian‑flagged Marinera oil tanker by the US military could have far‑reaching implications for the Euro‑Atlantic region and global civilian maritime traffic.
On Wednesday, the US European Command announced the capture of the vessel in international waters northwest of Scotland, after American warships pursued it from the Caribbean Sea.
The tanker, previously named Bella 1, was intercepted for allegedly violating US sanctions on the export of Venezuelan oil.
According to the Russian Transport Ministry, the Marinera received a temporary permit to fly the Russian flag on December 24, 2025.
In a statement Thursday, the Foreign Ministry expressed “serious concern in connection with the unlawful forcible action against the Marinera oil tanker conducted by the US armed forces on January 7.”
Officials insisted the vessel was sailing under the Russian flag in accordance with international and Russian law, and that Washington had been repeatedly notified through official channels.
Moscow stressed that international maritime law only permits stopping and searching vessels in international waters under narrowly defined circumstances, such as suspicion of piracy or slave trading — conditions it said did not apply to the Marinera.
Violation of Maritime Norms
Russia said it had lodged repeated protests over the weeks‑long pursuit of the tanker by US forces.
“In light of this, the boarding of the civilian vessel by US military personnel in international waters and its effective seizure, as well as the capture of the crew, cannot be interpreted as anything but the most blatant violation of the fundamental principles and norms of international maritime law,” the ministry stated.
Russian diplomats accused Washington of creating acute international crises and warned that the incident could escalate military‑political tensions in the Euro‑Atlantic region. They said the seizure sets a dangerous precedent by lowering the threshold for the use of force against civilian vessels.
Moscow also objected to US threats of prosecuting the tanker’s crew on American soil.
The Foreign Ministry demanded humane treatment and the immediate release of the crew, which includes Russian, Ukrainian, and Indian nationals, so they can return to their home countries.
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