The Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera, which was seized by United States forces in the North Atlantic on Wednesday after being tracked from the Caribbean Sea, had a multinational crew that included three Indian nationals, according to a report by Russia Today. The seizure has prompted a strong diplomatic response from Moscow, which has formally asked Washington to ensure dignified and humane treatment of all detained crew members and has urged US authorities to release all foreign nationals at the earliest possible time.
Sources familiar with the matter said the tanker, previously known as Bella 1, was carrying a total of 28 crew members at the time of its interception. Of these, 17 were Ukrainian nationals, six were citizens of Georgia, three were Indians, and two—including the ship’s captain—were Russian citizens. All crew members remain in US custody, and there has been no official indication so far regarding when or how they might be released.
US officials are currently investigating the ownership and operational history of the vessel to determine whether it violated international maritime regulations or sanctions regimes. Authorities have stated that the tanker was seized because of its alleged links to Venezuela, placing it under scrutiny in the context of broader enforcement actions related to sanctions and energy trade.
The interception followed a weeks-long pursuit in the Atlantic that reportedly involved Russian naval assets and was carried out with the knowledge and approval of the United Kingdom. According to US officials, the operation was conducted jointly by the US Coast Guard and the United States military, with British cooperation playing a critical role. British airbases were used as launch points for the mission to board the tanker, while Royal Air Force surveillance aircraft monitored the vessel as it transited waters between Iceland and the UK.
Moscow reacted sharply after news of the seizure emerged. Russia’s Transport Ministry issued a statement asserting that no state has the right to use force against vessels that are lawfully registered under another country’s jurisdiction. The incident has been framed by Russian officials as a serious violation of international maritime norms.
Among the most forceful reactions came from Alexei Zhuravlev, first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Defence. Quoted by ANI, Zhuravlev described the seizure of the Marinera as “outright piracy,” arguing that because the tanker was sailing under the Russian flag, the action amounted to an attack on Russian territory. He called for a strong and swift response, even invoking Russia’s military doctrine to suggest that extreme measures could be justified under such circumstances.
The seizure of the tanker has added another layer of tension to already strained relations between Washington and Moscow, particularly against the backdrop of sanctions enforcement, energy geopolitics, and ongoing disputes over freedom of navigation and maritime jurisdiction. As investigations continue and the fate of the detained crew remains uncertain, the incident is likely to remain a flashpoint in US–Russia relations in the days ahead.
