Moscow Demands US Ensure Safety of Russian Crew on Seized Tanker

Russia has called on the United States to ensure the humane treatment of Russian citizens aboard the seized Marinera vessel and to respect their rights and interests, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"The Russian foreign ministry is closely following reports about the US troops boarding the Marinera Russian-flagged vessel in the North Atlantic," a ministry spokesman said, The Caspian Post reports, citing TASS.

"Taking into account reports that there are Russian nationals among the crew, we demand the American side ensure proper and humane treatment of them, strictly observe their rights and interests, and put no obstacles for their soonest return to the motherland," the ministry stressed.

The Pentagon said earlier that the Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera had been detained in the North Atlantic. "The @TheJusticeDept & @DHSgov, in coordination with the @DeptofWar today announced the seizure of the M/V Bella 1 for violations of U.S. sanctions. The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court after being tracked by USCGC Munro," The US Souhern Command wrote on its X account. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth linked the detention of the Russian tanker to the embargo on Venezuelan oil.