This feels like a flashpoint from the Cold War, there must be something to trigger this kind show of force, even with the Trump administration seeking favourable relations with Russia.
Humacti on
>Weeks long pursuit
It’s not a speedboat.
omfgeometry on
Is this the same tanker that Russia had subs guarding it?
baidev on
I would imagine there are Venezuela bound weapons aboard, hense why the Russians are so keen to protect it. Then again, it’s trump so who knows.
edit: a second tanker was also intercepted.
baldy-84 on
The fuck is on this thing that the US pursues it across the Atlantic, it re-flags itself as Russian mid-journey, and Russia sends a nuclear sub to try and escort it back? This seems a bit spicier than the usual dodgy oil shipment.
MiniBrownie on
*”Venezuela-linked”* is really not doing justice to the full story behind this ship.
Again, this ship was heading from Iran to Venezuela. It never made it to Venezuela.
The US tried to board it as it was a sanctioned ship flying a false flag, but the ship evaded boarding and turned back towards the Atlantic Ocean. Since then the ship was renamed from Bella 1 to Marinera and changed its flag to Russia (something the UNCLOS doesn’t really allow mid-voyage). Russia made a diplomatic request to the US to stop pursuing the vessel and has recently claimed to have sent naval assets to escort it
We don’t know what’s on the ship, but it’s clear that Don really wants to board it and Vlad really doesn’t want it to be boarded.
This seems like it could be a big deal. Hopefully won’t be, but the kind of thing which could begin a tit-for-tat that gets serious.
ActiniumNugget on
Well, this is awkward, isn’t it? I have a feeling the boarding party debrief will be entertaining.
Wall-SWE on
“US seizing” yet the article only mentions “attempting to seize”??
MoltenDesire on
If Russia has/had nuclear subs following it. It’s likely something is on there that is in their interests. Especially since it left originally from Iran.
Beederda on
What about the russian submarine following it what’s it going to do now?
JODmeisterUK on
X3 Draco spec ops planes on the way out there with a Poseidon sniffer and support refuel tanker. Seen on adsb exchange within the last hour.
>At least 12 US C-17s landed at Fairford and Lakenheath airbases between January 3 and 5, many originating from airfields in the US.
>V-22 Ospreys were also active in the UK over the past several days, with flight data appearing to show them running training missions in the eastern UK out of Fairford air base. And two AC-130 gunships were seen arriving at Mildenhall base in the UK on Sunday.
Hopefully we get told what was on board. Crazy work for this to happen
Jeremys_Iron_ on
Looks like they’ve now seized it. Curious to find out if the government tell us what is on board.
FF6347 on
13:55
Breaking
The US European Command says the US Department of Justice and Homeland Security have “today announced the seizure of the M/V Bella 1 for violations of US sanctions”.
In a post on X, they add: “The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a US federal court after being tracked by USCGC Munro.”
Name a better duo than russian navy and humiliation
lotharing on
There were talks of Russian naval assets trying to shadow the ship. I assume they never reached it in time, or did they sit back rather than risk a confrontation?
Zhukov-74 on
They probably wanted to seize the oil tanker before the Russian navy arrived.
xdeltax97 on
This is the same one that flagged itself as Russian and caused the navy not to touch it?
birdie_Sea on
Russia won’t be able to sell oil. Ukraine it’s time for a massive strike on the infrastructure inside of Russia!
We can stop the Russians invasion.
wickedplayer494 on
*♫ It’s Time For World War Three! ♫*
Bikewer on
I was amused at the notion that we were “pursuing” this tanker, which according to Google might manage 12 knots…
More like “following until someone in the administration gives the thumbs-up”.
MrNewking on
How is this not bigger news.
slaveofficer on
Damn. I wonder what Kraznov’s handler is going to say about it?
TheGambit on
Say what you will about what the US’s goals are here, Venezuela was definitely involved in some super shady business
SteveL_VA on
Anyone have predictions for what’s actually onboard?
Must be something pretty great for Russia to beg for the US to leave it alone.
30 Comments
Let’s see how this one goes down.
This feels like a flashpoint from the Cold War, there must be something to trigger this kind show of force, even with the Trump administration seeking favourable relations with Russia.
>Weeks long pursuit
It’s not a speedboat.
Is this the same tanker that Russia had subs guarding it?
I would imagine there are Venezuela bound weapons aboard, hense why the Russians are so keen to protect it. Then again, it’s trump so who knows.
edit: a second tanker was also intercepted.
The fuck is on this thing that the US pursues it across the Atlantic, it re-flags itself as Russian mid-journey, and Russia sends a nuclear sub to try and escort it back? This seems a bit spicier than the usual dodgy oil shipment.
*”Venezuela-linked”* is really not doing justice to the full story behind this ship.
Again, this ship was heading from Iran to Venezuela. It never made it to Venezuela.
The US tried to board it as it was a sanctioned ship flying a false flag, but the ship evaded boarding and turned back towards the Atlantic Ocean. Since then the ship was renamed from Bella 1 to Marinera and changed its flag to Russia (something the UNCLOS doesn’t really allow mid-voyage). Russia made a diplomatic request to the US to stop pursuing the vessel and has recently claimed to have sent naval assets to escort it
We don’t know what’s on the ship, but it’s clear that Don really wants to board it and Vlad really doesn’t want it to be boarded.
I wonder if the front will fall off?
Here’s the link: https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/shipid:711469/zoom:10
According to Sky News, it just turned southbound.
Edit: it position is wrong I didn’t realise
This seems like it could be a big deal. Hopefully won’t be, but the kind of thing which could begin a tit-for-tat that gets serious.
Well, this is awkward, isn’t it? I have a feeling the boarding party debrief will be entertaining.
“US seizing” yet the article only mentions “attempting to seize”??
If Russia has/had nuclear subs following it. It’s likely something is on there that is in their interests. Especially since it left originally from Iran.
What about the russian submarine following it what’s it going to do now?
X3 Draco spec ops planes on the way out there with a Poseidon sniffer and support refuel tanker. Seen on adsb exchange within the last hour.
>The US [repositioned](https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/05/politics/us-plans-intercept-oil-tanker) military assets to the UK ahead of seizing the tanker, CNN has reported.
>At least 12 US C-17s landed at Fairford and Lakenheath airbases between January 3 and 5, many originating from airfields in the US.
>V-22 Ospreys were also active in the UK over the past several days, with flight data appearing to show them running training missions in the eastern UK out of Fairford air base. And two AC-130 gunships were seen arriving at Mildenhall base in the UK on Sunday.
[https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/07/politics/oil-tanker-us-seizure](https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/07/politics/oil-tanker-us-seizure)
Sounds like a lot of fun.
Hopefully we get told what was on board. Crazy work for this to happen
Looks like they’ve now seized it. Curious to find out if the government tell us what is on board.
13:55
Breaking
The US European Command says the US Department of Justice and Homeland Security have “today announced the seizure of the M/V Bella 1 for violations of US sanctions”.
In a post on X, they add: “The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a US federal court after being tracked by USCGC Munro.”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cwynjdqgellt
Name a better duo than russian navy and humiliation
There were talks of Russian naval assets trying to shadow the ship. I assume they never reached it in time, or did they sit back rather than risk a confrontation?
They probably wanted to seize the oil tanker before the Russian navy arrived.
This is the same one that flagged itself as Russian and caused the navy not to touch it?
Russia won’t be able to sell oil. Ukraine it’s time for a massive strike on the infrastructure inside of Russia!
We can stop the Russians invasion.
*♫ It’s Time For World War Three! ♫*
I was amused at the notion that we were “pursuing” this tanker, which according to Google might manage 12 knots…
More like “following until someone in the administration gives the thumbs-up”.
How is this not bigger news.
Damn. I wonder what Kraznov’s handler is going to say about it?
Say what you will about what the US’s goals are here, Venezuela was definitely involved in some super shady business
Anyone have predictions for what’s actually onboard?
Must be something pretty great for Russia to beg for the US to leave it alone.
I’m guessing weapons.