On January 7, the Russian Ministry of Transport announced that the US Navy boarded the oil tanker Marinera (formerly Bella-1) at approximately 3 p.m. Moscow time in international waters outside any state’s territorial boundaries, resulting in the loss of communication with the vessel.
The ministry stated that on December 24, 2025, the vessel received a temporary permit to operate under the Russian Federation’s flag. It emphasized that freedom of navigation operates throughout international waters and no nation may use force against ships registered under another jurisdiction’s flag.
Earlier reports indicated that on December 23, US forces attempted to intercept the tanker after reinforcements arrived, but the crew refused authorization for Coast Guard personnel to board.
