US-seized oil tanker row: 3 Indians among detained crew; Moscow demands humane treatment

Three Indians were among the crew members on board the Russia-flagged oil tanker seized by the US, as reported by Russia Today. The report shared accounts of crew members stating the crew consisted of 3 Indian citizens, 17 Ukrainian citizens, 6 Georgian citizens, and 2 Russian citizens.

In response to Washington's allegations of the oil tanker "violating the US sanctions," the report stated that ‘Marinera’ received legal permission to sail under the Russian flag on December 24, which was fully in line with international law.






“The Marinera crew consists of 17 Ukrainian citizens, six Georgian citizens, three Indian citizens and two Russian citizens,” Russia Today said, quoting sources.

It also said that the detained vessel was chartered under the flag of Guyana. On December 24, 2025, the ship received a temporary permit to sail under the Russian flag.



Moscow, on Thursday, also asked Washington to comply with the international laws on freedom of maritime navigation. The Russian foreign ministry also stated that information about 'Marinera', formerly known as Bella 1, was seized on Wednesday, was repeatedly conveyed to the United States.

"We call on Washington to resume compliance with the fundamental norms and principles of international maritime navigation and immediately cease its illegal actions against the Marinera tanker and other vessels engaged in law-abiding activities on the high seas," news agency PTI reported, quoting the Russian foreign ministry.

Moscow also demanded humane treatment of the crew members in its statement. "“We reiterate our demand that the US ensure humane and dignified treatment of the Russian citizens comprising the tanker’s crew, strictly observe their rights and interests, and make no obstacles to their prompt return to their homeland," it said.

Russia also claimed that the US was wrongly citing its own sanction laws.

"The statements by some US officials that the seizure of the Marinera is part of a broader strategy to establish Washington’s unlimited control over Venezuela’s natural resources are extremely cynical. We strongly reject such neo-colonialist tendencies," the Russian foreign ministry stated.

"Unilateral restrictive measures by the US, as well as other Western countries, are illegitimate and cannot justify attempts to establish jurisdiction and, even more so, to seize ships on the high seas," it added.

Russia asserted that the US boarded and seized a Russian civilian vessel without consent. It reinstated its formal protest on the matter and argued that the US actions constitute a serious violation of international maritime law and freedom of navigation.

"Russia did not give consent to these actions. On the contrary, it lodged an official protest with the US government regarding the pursuit of the Marinera by a US Coast Guard vessel over the past several weeks, insisting on the immediate cessation of these activities and the withdrawal of the unlawful demands made on the Russian ship’s captain," the ministry said.

On Wednesday, US forces seized the Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera in the North Atlantic. The US claimed the vessel was a part of a "shadow fleet" carrying sanctioned oil and had fled a US blockade near Venezuela. The US forces, despite the presence of a Russian submarine escort, boarded the ship after the operation was authorised by a federal warrant for sanctions violations.