Russian-flagged oil tanker seized by the US after it evaded Venezuela blockade
U.S. authorities have seized an oil tanker formerly known as Bella 1 in the North Atlantic over sanctions violations following a weeks-long pursuit, the U.S. military announced on January 7.
The vessel, later renamed Marinera and re-flagged under Russia after evading a U.S. blockade near Venezuela in December, was boarded while empty. U.S. officials described the operation as part of a coordinated crackdown on so-called “ghost fleet” tankers used to evade sanctions.
The seizure, carried out by the U.S. Coast Guard with military support, marks a rare and potentially escalatory incident amid already strained U.S.-Russia relations, heightened by Washington’s recent operation in Venezuela and Russia’s refusal to halt its war against Ukraine. U.S. European Command said the action was coordinated with the Justice Department, Homeland Security, and the Pentagon, citing a presidential proclamation targeting sanctioned vessels that threaten regional security.
Russian authorities protested the boarding, saying the ship had received temporary authorization to sail under the Russian flag and insisting that force cannot be used against vessels registered under another state’s jurisdiction. Moscow demanded humane treatment of the crew and their swift return. U.S. officials countered that the tanker was effectively stateless after flying a false flag and said crew members could face prosecution if federal laws were violated.
Reports diverged on Russia’s response at sea. Reuters cited officials saying Russian vessels, including a submarine, were nearby but did not intervene, while The New York Times reported that no Russian warships were in the area. The U.S. military reportedly deployed surveillance aircraft and AC-130 gunships, with the U.K. confirming it provided operational support at Washington’s request.
The tanker had previously been sanctioned by the U.S. for allegedly transporting black-market Iranian oil linked to organizations designated as terrorist groups. Ukrainian officials welcomed the seizure, calling it evidence of firm U.S. leadership and a signal that Washington is prepared to act decisively rather than cautiously toward Moscow.
European authorities are investigating deliberate damage to undersea cables in the Baltic Sea for the second time since December 31
Lithuanian and Latvian authorities are investigating a suspected deliberate damage to an undersea fiber-optic cable in the Baltic Sea that occurred on the evening of January 2, Lithuanian National Crisis Management Center head Vilmantas Vitkauskas said on January 5.
Vitkauskas said investigators are examining an unidentified vessel and its crew currently docked at the Latvian port of Liepaja, but did not disclose the ship’s name, ownership, or nationality, nor did he attribute responsibility for the damage.
The incident follows a separate case reported on December 31, when Finnish and Estonian authorities stated that an undersea communications cable between Estonia and Finland had been deliberately cut. In that case, officials detained the crew of the cargo vessel Fitburg, which was transporting sanctioned Russian steel products from St. Petersburg, though no actor has yet been formally blamed.
Both incidents come amid growing concern among NATO members over Russia’s expanding “Phase Zero” activities — covert actions intended to destabilize Europe, strain NATO unity, and shape the political, informational, and psychological environment ahead of any potential future confrontation with the alliance.
Death toll rose after Russian strike on ports in Odesa Oblast
The death toll from Russia’s attack on the ports of Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi in Odesa Oblast has increased to two, according to the head of the Odesa Oblast Military Administration.
According to him, two people were killed in the strike, and he expressed condolences to their families. He added that eight others were injured and are receiving medical treatment, and that all emergency services remain at the scene.
Russia carried out a combined missile and drone attack on port infrastructure in Odesa Oblast on the afternoon of January 7. One fatality had been reported earlier.