January 08, (THEWILL) — Russia has strongly condemned the seizure of its oil tanker by the United States, warning that the action could fuel rising global maritime tensions and undermine established international shipping norms.
The tanker, Marinera (formerly known as Bella 1), flying the Russian flag, was seized by U.S. forces in the North Atlantic near Iceland on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. Moscow described the interception as an “outright act of piracy” and a clear violation of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
In a statement issued Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry accused the Trump administration of creating “acute international crisis situations” through what it called a dismissive attitude toward global maritime rules.
Senior Russian legislator Andrei Klishas warned that the seizure could lower the threshold for the use of force against peaceful commercial shipping, noting that “no state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered in the jurisdictions of other states.”
According to U.S. European Command (EUCOM), the Marinera was intercepted by the USCGC Munro for allegedly violating U.S. sanctions on Venezuela. The seizure brought an end to a dramatic two-week pursuit that began in the Caribbean, where the vessel reportedly fled an initial boarding attempt.
Washington claims the tanker is part of a “shadow fleet” attempting to disguise its identity to evade a total maritime blockade on Venezuelan oil exports following the recent U.S. capture of President Nicolás Maduro.
Russia firmly rejected the allegations, insisting that the tanker was granted temporary permission to sail under the Russian flag in accordance with international law.
The Russian Transport Ministry confirmed that contact with the vessel was lost after U.S. personnel boarded at approximately 7:00 a.m. local time. The ministry has demanded the “humane and dignified treatment” of the Russian crew members and their swift return home.
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