US arrested Russian tanker "Marinera"

In international waters beyond national jurisdictions, at around 15:00 Moscow time, the United States Navy boarded the Russian tanker 'Marinera' and, having lost communication, seized the vessel. The raid was carried out under an official warrant issued by a U.S. Federal Court. The official statement from the Russian Ministry of Transport clarified that on December 24, 2025, the 'Marinera' received temporary permission to sail under the state flag of the Russian Federation in accordance with Russian legislation and international law. Russian authorities noted that the regime of freedom of navigation applies in international waters, and no state has the right to use force against a vessel properly registered under a foreign jurisdiction. In response, the United States stated that violation of American sanctions served as the basis for the action. According to the UK Ministry of Defence, the British government provided assistance in the seizure of the 'Marinera' at the request of the United States. UK Ministry of Defence representatives stated that the operation complied with international requirements for enforcing sanctions. The statement emphasized that such events could have serious consequences for Ukraine and the global economy.

Context

The United States imposed sanctions on Russian vessels in 2022 in response to Russia's military actions; since then, U.S. armed forces have actively conducted raids on Russian ships violating these sanctions.