Russia calls on the United States to ensure the "prompt return" of the crew members after condemning the seizure

while Putin has yet to comment 

The United States announced it has taken control of the Russian oil tanker Marinera after more than two weeks of pursuit in the Atlantic Ocean. The US European Command announced the news in a series of posts on X ,The Russian-flagged tanker, which previously transported Venezuelan oil, was intercepted today approximately 300 kilometers off the southern coast of Iceland, according to the ship tracking website MarineTraffic. The tracking shows the vessel turning sharply south when reports of its seizure surfaced.

The seizure of the M/V Bella 1 for violating U.S. sanctions

"The Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Department of War,  announced the seizure of the M/V Bella 1 for violating U.S. sanctions. The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court after being located by the U.S. Coast Guard vessel Munro," the release reads. "This seizure supports the President's announcement targeting sanctioned vessels that threaten the security and stability of the Western Hemisphere. The operation was executed by components of the Department of Homeland Security with support from the Department of War, in a whole-of-government approach to protecting the homeland."

US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said the crew of the US Coast Guard Munro had pursued the ship for weeks “across the high seas and through  treacherous storms.” However, it’s unclear if the ship in the RT footage is the Munro. Ahead of the vessel’s seizure, the Russian military had started to move around naval assets and a submarine to protect the ship, according to a US official. But it’s unclear how close those vessels were to the tanker when it was seized, the source said.

An official interviewed by NBC, American agents 

According to an official interviewed by NBC, American agents boarded the tanker, formerly called Bella 1 and then renamed Marinera. The vessel, which previously carried Venezuelan crude oil and sailed under the Russian flag, is suspected by Washington of violating sanctions and transporting Iranian oil.

Russian flag on its hull or Italian Flag ?!

Russia Today released images of the boarding, documenting the intervention of a helicopter: according to the Russian outlet, military personnel were on board. The vessel, formerly called Bella 1 and now renamed Marinera, changed its flag to the Russian one and reportedly painted the Italian flag on its hull ( according to Shipping Italy ) to avoid a possible collision. American media reported that Russia sent military vessels to escort it, and in one case even a submarine, but apparently to no avail.

 The United States continued to pursue the tanker 

Whereas the US Coast Guard, CNN reports, had attempted to seize the tanker last month when it was near Venezuela, but US forces were unable to stop it as the vessel reversed course and fled. The United States continued to pursue the tanker as it headed northeast, and US P-8 surveillance aircraft—deployed at RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk, England—monitored the vessel for days before its seizure.

During the pursuit, 

During the pursuit, the tanker's crew painted a Russian flag on its hull, claiming it was sailing under Moscow's protection. Shortly thereafter, the vessel appeared in the official Russian naval register under a new name: Marinera. In recent days, Russia had submitted a formal diplomatic request, urging the United States to cease pursuing the vessel.

The British Armed Forces 

On the other hand  the British Armed Forces demonstrated competence and professionalism by contributing to the successful US interception of the Bella 1 vessel (which later changed its name to Marinera, ed.), bound for Russia. The operation is part of international efforts to counter sanctions evasion," said British Defence Secretary John Healey, noting that the Russian-flagged tanker had a "nefarious history" and was "part of a Russian-Iranian axis of sanctions evasion that is fueling terrorism, conflict, and misery from the Middle East to Ukraine."

The United Kingdom  supported to US

The United Kingdom provided support to the United States, at their request, to intercept the Bella 1 vessel today, the ministry said in a statement, specifying that it was  pre-planned operational support, including the establishment of bases, for US military assets." The operation at sea involved the RFA vessel Tideforce, while the RAF provided aerial surveillance. The ministry added that the UK's support was "fully compliant with international law."

The crew members

Russia condemned the Bella 1’s seizure, with its transport ministry arguing “no state has the right to use force against vessels that are properly registered in the jurisdictions of other nations” under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, a treaty which the US has not signed.

Russia also calls on the United States to ensure the "prompt return" of the crew members. "We demand that the United States guarantee them humane and dignified treatment, scrupulously respect their rights and interests, and not hinder their prompt return," the Russian Foreign Ministry added, ,according to the Russian state news agency TASS. without specifying how many Russians were on board. TASS also reported Russian lawmaker Leonid Slutsky called the US seizure of the vessel an act of “21st-century piracy” which violates international law . Russian leader Vladimir Putin has yet to comment on the seizure.

The second intercepted vessel, the M/T Sophia,

 Meanwhile White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed risks of a confrontation with Russia, arguing US President Donald Trump maintains a good relationship with Putin

At the same time, another tanker from the so-called "dark fleet" was also detained in the Caribbean. In a post on X, the US Southern Command wrote: "This morning, in a pre-dawn action, the Department of War, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, detained an unflagged motor oil tanker" belonging to the so-called Shadow fleet without incident." According to the command, the intercepted vessel, the M/T Sophia, (IMO 9776559, MMSI 241436000 -sailing under the flag of Greece. ) was operating in international waters and conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean. The US Coast Guard is escorting the tanker Sophia to the United States.

Related : Reports : Tensions escalate between Russia and US over an attempted seizure of the Bella 1 vessel -Details

Agencies 

#M/T Sophia #Russian Foreign Ministry # Bella 1 # Marinera # Russian-flagged tanker #UK #Naval battle #US Sanations #Shadowfleet