On Wednesday (January 7), United States seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic. According to reports, three Indian nationals were among the 28 crew members onboard. The vessel, currently named Marinera, was intercepted by US forces after being tracked from the Caribbean Sea, according to Russia Today (RT), mentioning Russia’s transport ministry. The tanker had previously been operating under the name Bella 1 and was chartered by a private trader. Although initially reported as Russian-flagged, RT said the ship was operating under the flag of Guyana at the time of the seizure. The multinational crew reportedly included 17 Ukrainians, six Georgians, three Indians, two Russians, and other personnel.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-it-s-the-energy-greed-of-north-venezuela-s-interim-president-slams-us-for-drugs-democracy-falsehoods-1767887211995">‘It’s the energy greed of North’: Venezuela’s interim president slams US for drugs, democracy falsehoods</a>&nbsp;US authorities said the tanker was seized due to its alleged links to Venezuela, which remains under strict US sanctions. According to news agency Reuters, the vessel had evaded a US maritime blockade of sanctioned tankers and ignored repeated attempts by the US Coast Guard to board it. Two US officials told Reuters that the operation involved both the Coast Guard and the US military, marking what appears to be the first seizure of a Russian-flagged vessel by US forces in recent years.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/earth-s-magnetic-shield-weakens-as-mysterious-weak-spot-grows-threatening-satellites-1767889260157/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/earth-s-magnetic-shield-weakens-as-mysterious-weak-spot-grows-threatening-satellites-1767889260157/embed</a>&nbsp;Russia’s transport ministry said it lost all contact with the tanker after US naval forces boarded it. Images aired by RT showed a helicopter hovering above the vessel, suggesting an active boarding operation. A senior Russian lawmaker, Andrei Klishas of the ruling United Russia party, condemned the action as “outright piracy,” according to the TASS news agency. The US later confirmed it had seized two oil tankers linked to Venezuela, Bella 1 (now Marinera) and M Sophia, a Panama-flagged vessel described as a “stateless, sanctioned dark fleet tanker.” US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said the Coast Guard conducted “meticulously coordinated” boardings of both vessels, adding that Bella 1 had attempted to evade authorities by changing its name and flag.

3 Indian nationals among crew in Russian-flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuela seized by US: Reports

On Wednesday (January 7), United States seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic. According to reports, three Indian nationals were among the 28 crew members onboard. The vessel, currently named Marinera, was intercepted by US forces after being tracked from the Caribbean Sea, according to Russia Today (RT), mentioning Russia’s transport ministry. The tanker had previously been operating under the name Bella 1 and was chartered by a private trader. Although initially reported as Russian-flagged, RT said the ship was operating under the flag of Guyana at the time of the seizure. The multinational crew reportedly included 17 Ukrainians, six Georgians, three Indians, two Russians, and other personnel. Also Read: ‘It’s the energy greed of North’: Venezuela’s interim president slams US for drugs, democracy falsehoods US authorities said the tanker was seized due to its alleged links to Venezuela, which remains under strict US sanctions. According to news agency Reuters, the vessel had evaded a US maritime blockade of sanctioned tankers and ignored repeated attempts by the US Coast Guard to board it. Two US officials told Reuters that the operation involved both the Coast Guard and the US military, marking what appears to be the first seizure of a Russian-flagged vessel by US forces in recent years. https://www.wionews.com/videos/earth-s-magnetic-shield-weakens-as-mysterious-weak-spot-grows-threatening-satellites-1767889260157/embed Russia’s transport ministry said it lost all contact with the tanker after US naval forces boarded it. Images aired by RT showed a helicopter hovering above the vessel, suggesting an active boarding operation. A senior Russian lawmaker, Andrei Klishas of the ruling United Russia party, condemned the action as “outright piracy,” according to the TASS news agency. The US later confirmed it had seized two oil tankers linked to Venezuela, Bella 1 (now Marinera) and M Sophia, a Panama-flagged vessel described as a “stateless, sanctioned dark fleet tanker.” US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said the Coast Guard conducted “meticulously coordinated” boardings of both vessels, adding that Bella 1 had attempted to evade authorities by changing its name and flag.

Three Indian nationals are among 28 crew members aboard the Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera, which was seized by US forces over alleged links to Venezuela

The United Kingdom on Wednesday (Jan 7) revealed that it had provided the United States military with help, which eventually led to the seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker north-west of Britain and Ireland. The nation contended that the seizure, which Russia had labelled "outright piracy", was in fact legal because the vessel now known as Marinera (previously Bella 1) had breached US sanctions on Iran.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-sends-submarine-to-shadow-oil-tanker-chased-by-us-near-venezuela-watch-1767779992738">Russia sends submarine to shadow oil tanker chased by US near Venezuela | Watch</a><h2>How did the UK help the US?</h2>British Defence Secretary John Healey said the UK allowed US aircraft to use British bases to prepare for and carry out the operation. He told Parliament that the Royal Air Force provided additional surveillance, while the Royal Navy assisted with refuelling as the final capture of the vessel was underway.The tanker, now called Marinera, was previously known as Bella 1 and had been sailing from the Caribbean toward Russia. Healey said Britain's involvement was justified because the ship "with a nefarious history, is part of a Russian-Iranian axis of sanctions evasion which is fuelling terrorism, conflict and misery from the Middle East to Ukraine".Watch the capture here:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark" data-dnt="true" align="center">Specialized capabilities. Global impact. An unstoppable joint force.   Alongside <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DeptofWar</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/USCG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USCG</a> conducted a boarding and seizure of the Motor Tanker Bella I this morning in the North Atlantic. Following a sustained shadowing effort across the Atlantic by Coast Guard Cutter… <a href="https://t.co/xEmFkh4xLO">pic.twitter.com/xEmFkh4xLO</a>&mdash; U.S. Coast Guard (@USCG) <a href="https://twitter.com/USCG/status/2009042811736469596?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>A ‘stateless’ vessel</h2>Later in the day, Healey expanded on the legal rationale. He told MPs the vessel had changed its name "five times in five years" and had falsely flown the flag of Guyana when it entered the Caribbean as Bella 1. That, he said, rendered it effectively stateless at the time.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-military-seizes-second-venezuela-linked-oil-tanker-in-caribbean-sea-1767797997464">US seizes second Venezuela-linked oil tanker in Caribbean Sea; Moscow slams US</a>A stateless vessel "may be lawfully intercepted and subjected to the law of the interdicting state," Healey said, though there is an ongoing debate about the extent to which they can be boarded or seized.The defence secretary also described the Marinera as part of a growing "shadow shipping that fuels and funds instability". He said Russia operates a vast "shadow fleet of its own to bankroll its illegal invasion of Ukraine".Healey, however, stressed that British forces played only a supporting role and did not take part in the actual boarding of the ship, which was carried out by US forces.<h2>US thanks UK's 'unwavering support'</h2>As per The Guardian, British assistance included the deployment of the RFA Tideforce, a Royal Navy utility vessel that provides fuel, water and other military supplies, and RAF Rivet Joint surveillance flights.The US military's European Command has publicly thanked the UK for “for your unwavering support during the U.S. Operation to seize the M/V Bella.”&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Thanks <a href="https://twitter.com/DefenceHQ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DefenceHQ</a> for your unwavering support during the U.S. Operation to seize the M/V Bella. <a href="https://t.co/EYxMMzSr0b">https://t.co/EYxMMzSr0b</a>&mdash; U.S. European Command (@US_EUCOM) <a href="https://twitter.com/US_EUCOM/status/2009019302951993795?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Britain has admitted it quietly helped the US seize a Russian-flagged tanker near its waters, backing Washington’s sanctions drive. Moscow calls it ‘outright piracy’, but London says the ship was stateless and was funding illicit oil trade. All details here.

The United Kingdom on Wednesday (Jan 7) revealed that it had provided the United States military with help, which eventually led to the seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker north-west of Britain and Ireland. The nation contended that the seizure, which Russia had labelled "outright piracy", was in fact legal because the vessel now known as Marinera (previously Bella 1) had breached US sanctions on Iran. Also read | Russia sends submarine to shadow oil tanker chased by US near Venezuela | Watch How did the UK help the US? British Defence Secretary John Healey said the UK allowed US aircraft to use British bases to prepare for and carry out the operation. He told Parliament that the Royal Air Force provided additional surveillance, while the Royal Navy assisted with refuelling as the final capture of the vessel was underway. The tanker, now called Marinera, was previously known as Bella 1 and had been sailing from the Caribbean toward Russia. Healey said Britain's involvement was justified because the ship "with a nefarious history, is part of a Russian-Iranian axis of sanctions evasion which is fuelling terrorism, conflict and misery from the Middle East to Ukraine". Watch the capture here:

Britain has admitted it quietly helped the US seize a Russian-flagged tanker near its waters, backing Washington’s sanctions drive. Moscow calls it ‘outright piracy’, but London says the ship was stateless and was funding illicit oil trade. All details here.

US thanks UK for unwavering support: Here's how Britain helped America capture 'nefarious' Russian-flagged tanker 'Bella 1'

russian-oil-tanker-seized

Russian Oil Tanker Seized, News on Russian Oil Tanker Seized, stories on Russian Oil Tanker Seized, articles on Russian Oil Tanker Seized, Russian Oil Tanker Seized stories at Wion, Russian Oil Tanker Seized news, Russian Oil Tanker Seized latest news

russian oil-tanker-seized

3 Indian nationals among crew in Russian-flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuela seized by US: Reports

How UK helped US capture 'nefarious' Russian-flagged tanker 'Bella 1'