By Micah Jonah
January 9, 2026
Russia said the United States has agreed to release two Russian crew members detained following the seizure of the oil tanker Marinera in the North Atlantic, after an appeal from Moscow.
According to Russian officials, the crew members were held after U.S. forces intercepted the tanker, which Washington said had breached American sanctions. The vessel was taken under U.S. control earlier this week, escalating tensions already strained by broader geopolitical disputes.
Russian authorities criticized the seizure as unlawful, arguing that the action violated international maritime norms. Moscow said it raised the issue directly with U.S. officials, leading to the agreement to free the detained sailors, though questions remain over the status of the vessel itself.
The incident is part of a wider pattern of confrontations at sea, as the U.S. steps up enforcement of sanctions linked to Venezuela and its energy trade. Russia has warned that such actions risk destabilizing international shipping routes, increasing the likelihood of miscalculation between major powers.
Washington has not publicly commented on the release decision, nor clarified whether further action will be taken against the tanker or its operators.
The episode adds to mounting friction between the two countries, already at odds over conflicts in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Latin America, with maritime enforcement emerging as a new flashpoint.
