Die USA According to official info, they seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker within the North Atlantic close to Iceland. This was confirmed by the European command of the US armed forces on Platform X. The army justified the motion with violations of US sanctions. “The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court,” the assertion stated. The US warship USCGC Munro chased the tanker.
When requested by ZEIT, the US authorities press division additionally referred to the X-Post. The Russian state broadcaster RT reported that US troopers apparently tried to board the tanker from a helicopter Sailor and printed a corresponding image. It was initially not doable to independently confirm whether or not the pictures have been actual. The AP information company additionally reported that US army troopers boarded the ship.
The tanker was referred to as earlier than Bella 1, however then apparently modified his identify. He is claimed to have been sanctioned by the US since 2024 for his actions inside a “shadow fleet” of tankers that transported unlawful oil, CNN experiences. The so-called shadow fleet contains tanker boats that transport oil for nations resembling Venezuela, Russia and Iran in violation of sanctions.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth responded to the put up from the European Command of the US Armed Forces on
Tanker beforehand broke by means of Venezuela blockade
The one now in Atlantic The seized tanker had beforehand escaped a partial blockade round Venezuela, US broadcasters Fox News and CNN reported. US coast guard and army items pursued the ship for a number of weeks. According to CNN, throughout this time the tanker’s crew painted a Russian flag on the hull and claimed to be crusing underneath Russian safety.
Shortly afterwards the ship appeared underneath a brand new identify – Sailor – within the official Russian ship register. Russia submitted a proper diplomatic request final month asking the U.S. to cease pursuing the ship. According to the New York Times The ship may have been on its strategy to Murmansk, an ice-free Russian port within the Arctic.
Russia accuses USA of violating maritime legislation
The state of affairs is especially explosive because of the connection to Russia. According to insiders, a Russian submarine and a warship have been a minimum of briefly situated close to the location, two US representatives stated. But it’s unclear whether or not they have been additionally within the space throughout the US assault.
Russia stated the seizure was a violation of maritime legislation. “Under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, freedom of navigation applies on the high seas and no state has the right to use force against ships duly registered in the jurisdiction of other states,” the ministry stated in a press release. It stated contact with the ship was misplaced after US naval forces boarded it.
Another tanker seized within the Caribbean
Die Sailor is just not the one tanker that US items seized this Wednesday. Another ship was detained in Caribbean waters. The M/T Sophiawhich was seized within the Caribbean, can be topic to US sanctions, belongs to the shadow fleet and has carried out “illegal activities” within the area, the US army command chargeable for the area, Southern Command, stated on X.
A video within the put up is meant to indicate the operation. However, this can’t be independently verified.
https://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2026-01/oeltanker-atlantik-marinera-einsatz-usa-russland-venezuela