Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:21pm on 08 Jan 2026,Thursday India Global
A Russian-flagged oil tanker, Marinera (formerly Bella 1), was seized by the United States in the North Atlantic, accused of violating US sanctions related to Venezuelan oil exports after a weeks-long pursuit involving Coast Guard and military forces. Three Indian nationals were among the 28 crew members, which also included Ukrainians, Georgians and Russians. The U.S. operation, backed by British support, has sparked protests from Moscow, which called the action unlawful and demanded humane treatment and speedy repatriation of the detained crew. The legal status and future of the seized sailors remain uncertain.
