Published: January 7, 2026 4:00 pm
Author: RT
A Russian-flagged oil tanker was seized in the North Atlantic, the Russian Transport Ministry has confirmed
The Russian Transport Ministry has confirmed that the oil tanker ‘Marinera’ has been captured by the US military.
Earlier on Wednesday, the US European Command announced having taken possession of the ship, previously named the ‘Bella 1’, for alleged “violation of US sanctions.”
The tanker was boarded by US military personnel “in the high seas outside the territorial waters of any state,” and that “contact with the vessel was lost,” the Russian Transport Ministry has said.
“On December 24, 2025, the Marinera received a temporary permit to fly the Russian flag, issued in accordance with Russian and international law,” the ministry stated, adding that the attack on the vessel came in violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which ensures freedom of navigation in international waters.
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