American Landing Party Landed On The Russian Tanker Marinera

• 7.01.2026, 17:20

Not even the ships of the Russian Navy saved the day.

Russian propagandists have published video and photos of the alleged landing of a U.S. amphibious assault on the Russian "shadow navy" tanker Marinera, which has been trying to break away from the U.S. Coast Guard for two weeks. According to Reuters, the U.S. has taken control of the vessel. Russian warships and a Russian submarine were near the tanker during the seizure, but did nothing but watch as the tanker was seized by the Americans.

The vessel in question, formerly known as the Bella 1, was sailing under the Panamanian flag to Venezuela and is believed by Washington to be involved in shipments of Iranian oil under U.S. sanctions.

After U.S. forces tried to stop the vessel in the Caribbean Sea, the crew painted the Russian tricolor on board and told the Coast Guard that they were under Russian control.

Afterward, the NYT reports, Russian Federation sent a formal appeal to the states demanding that they stop pursuing the tanker. The sanctioned Bella 1 was later found in the official Russian ship registry already under the new name Marinera.

U.S. media reported earlier today that Russia had sent a submarine and other naval forces to escort the tanker.