Afrasianet - The Russian Ministry of Transport reported that US naval forces boarded the Russian vessel "Marinera" at sea, in violation of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The ministry explained in a statement that on December 24, 2025, the ship "Marinera" obtained a temporary permit to sail under the flag of the Russian Federation, in accordance with Russian and international law.
"Today, at around 3 p.m. Moscow time, the U.S. Navy forces boarded the ship at sea outside the territorial waters of any country, and lost contact with it," the statement said.
The ministry noted that in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, freedom of navigation at sea prevails, and no State has the right to use force against vessels officially registered in the territorial waters of other States.
The European Command of US Forces reported that US authorities had detained the Russian oil tanker "Marinera" for violating the US sanctions regime.
The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed concern about the situation that has arisen around the Russian tanker. The ministry said Moscow was watching with concern the "abnormal situation" that had arisen around the Russian oil tanker Marinera, which was in international waters in the North Atlantic under the Russian flag in accordance with the law of the international sea.
The ministry stressed that the Russian tanker "is inexplicably receiving increasing attention and is clearly disproportionate to its peaceful situation by US and NATO forces".
Purivist Marine earlier announced that the Russian oil tanker M/T Marinera is being pursued by the U.S. Coast Guard in the North Atlantic with warnings of a possible attempt to intercept it in dangerous weather conditions.
The company confirmed that the oil tanker "M/T Marinera" (IMO number: 9230880) is empty and heading towards the Russian city of Murmansk at a speed of 8.5 knots and is being pursued by the US Coast Guard under aerial surveillance from B-8A Poseidon reconnaissance planes.
Klishas: The seizure of the oil tanker "Marinera" by the Americans is an outright piracy
The head of the Constitutional Legislation Committee of the Russian Federation's parliament, Andrei Klishas, described the US seizure of the Russian national flag tanker Marinera as "outright piracy".
"After the 'law enforcement operation' that killed several dozen people on Venezuelan territory, the United States engaged in outright piracy on the high seas," Klechas wrote on his Telegram channel. All of this is done in accordance with 'regulations' that are notorious for violating the rules of international law."
For its part, the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed that Moscow is closely monitoring reports that US military personnel boarded the Russian-flagged oil tanker "Marinera" in the North Atlantic Ocean.
The ministry also stressed that Russia demands that the United States ensure humane and dignified treatment of Russian citizens aboard the Marinera and respect for their rights and interests.
"In view of the information received regarding the presence of Russian nationals on board, we call on the US side to ensure that they are treated humanely and dignified, their rights and interests are fully respected, and their speedy return to their homeland is not impeded," the State Department said in a statement.
White House Claims Marinera Doesn't Belong to Any Country and Flies a False Flag
White House spokeswoman Carolyn Levitt reiterated the US position on the incident of the Russian oil tanker "Marinera", claiming that the detained vessel "does not belong to any country".
"I repeat, this was a vessel of the Venezuelan Shadow Fleet transporting sanctioned oil," Levitt said at a news conference. It was determined that the vessel did not belong to any country, and was flying a false flag, and a warrant was issued for its arrest, so the crew is under prosecution."
"I would also like to add that a warrant has been issued for the arrest of the vessel and its crew, which means that the crew is now subject to prosecution for any violation related to federal law and, if necessary, they will be brought to the United States for prosecution."
"The detention of a tracking oil tanker in the North Atlantic Ocean was on a federal warrant. This vessel is part of the unofficial Venezuelan fleet and has been transporting oil in violation of sanctions. The United States and President [Donald Trump] will not tolerate this."
This statement puts the US position in stark contrast to official Russian statements, which confirm that the ship "Marinera" received a temporary permit to sail under the Russian flag in December 2025, and that its detention in international waters is considered a violation of international law and "outright piracy" according to Russian officials.
Moscow affirms that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982), which guarantees freedom of navigation on the high seas and limits the right of states to use force against foreign vessels outside their territorial waters, especially those officially registered in another State.
