United States paratroopers are trying to board an oil tanker belonging to the aggressor country of russia called the Marinera after more than two weeks of pursuit across the Atlantic. Two US officials said to Reuters on Wednesday, January 7.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the operation was being carried out by the US Coast Guard and the US military. They added that russian warships were nearby during the operation, including a russian submarine.
"The seizure, which could inflame tensions with Russia, came after the tanker, originally known as Bella-1, passed through a maritime 'blockade' of authorized tankers and refused to allow the US Coast Guard to board," the report said.
BREAKING: The operation to board and seize the Russian-flagged vessel Bella 1, also known as Marinera, is now underway, Reuters reports.
This is the vessel Russia deployed a submarine and several other ships to protect. pic.twitter.com/IUMaIj8ACq
— Daractenus (@Daractenus) January 7, 2026
Russian channels released video from the tanker and were quick to emphasize that the US was paying "too much attention" to the vessel and that the russian Foreign Ministry was "closely monitoring the situation."
The russian-flagged Marinera is the latest tanker to be targeted by the US Coast Guard since the start of US President Donald Trump's campaign of pressure on Venezuela, Reuters explains.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, russia is actively increasing the capacity of its "shadow fleet" to ensure oil transportation despite international sanctions.
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