US releases detained Russians from seized tanker as Moscow protests

The United States has freed two Russian nationals from the crew of a seized oil tanker following their detainment during a January 7 operation in the North Atlantic. President Donald Trump approved the release after the Russian government appealed for their return, with the Russian Foreign Ministry confirming on Friday that action was underway to bring the citizens home.

However, Moscow continues to protest what it calls the "illegal use of force" against the tanker Marinera (previously known as Bella 1), which it says was "temporarily authorized to fly the Russian flag" on December 24. Russia maintains the vessel was "transiting peacefully" through international waters to a Russian port when U.S. forces boarded and seized it without consent.

Russia argues the seizure violates international maritime law, which grants the flag state exclusive jurisdiction over civilian vessels except in cases of suspected piracy or slave trading. Moscow says it repeatedly provided U.S. authorities with official information confirming the ship's Russian registration and civilian status. The ministry also rejected U.S. sanctions legislation as having "no legal foundation" and decried threats of legal action against the crew, which includes citizens of several countries.

The incident has strained already tense Russian-American relations, with Russia warning that such actions could escalate military-political tensions in the Euro-Atlantic region and lower the threshold for using force against civilian shipping worldwide. Is this escalation a one-off incident or could it become the new normal for maritime enforcement?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/01/09/us-releases-detained-russians-as-moscow-protests-vessel-seizure/