Moscow demands the United States to allow the rapid release of the Russian crew of the Mariner tanker sailing under the Russian flag, which The US intercepted it in the North Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday after several weeks of pursuit. This was reported by the AFP agency, writes TASR.
The seizure of the tanker Mariner, originally known as Bella 1, near Iceland was announced on Wednesday by the United States European Command (EUCOM). The reason for the detention was a violation of American sanctionswhich were imposed on the vessel for previous involvement in the Iranian oil trade. In the past, the ship also transported Venezuelan oil.
According to the TASS agency, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the United States to they did not prevent the quick return of the Russians from the Marinera ship to their homeland. News of the vessel’s seizure is being closely followed by Moscow and is asking Washington to ensure that Russian citizens are treated in a humane and dignified manner.
According to Reuters, unnamed officials said that Russian ships, including a submarine, were located near the vessel during the American operationno According to them, there was no clash with American forces. Britain provided support to the Americans at their request – in the form of reconnaissance flights and the deployment of a military ship.
The Russian ministry’s statement did not say how many Russians are on board the detained vesselwhich US authorities have been chasing since December off the coast of Venezuela, where they say they evaded the US naval blockade of sanctioned ships. American authorities, according to the AFP agency, claim that The Marinera is part of a shadow fleet that transports oil to countries such as Venezuela, Russia and Iran in defiance of US sanctions.
Russia’s Transport Ministry said earlier on Wednesday that members of the US Navy boarded the tanker “outside the territorial waters of any state”. It added that lost contact with the vessel. The ministry reported without further details that the ship received temporary permission to sail under the Russian flag on December 24, 2025.
“In accordance with the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, freedom of navigation extends to the waters of the high seas and no state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered in the jurisdiction of other states,” it is written in the statement of the ministry.
