After US military forces seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker on Wednesday, Moscow issued a strong statement condemning Washington, asserting that no country has the right to use force against vessels lawfully registered under another state's jurisdiction, particularly on the high seas. In a statement issued on Telegram, Russia's Ministry of Transport said that the tanker Marinera, originally named Bella 1, had received a temporary permit to sail under the Russian Federation flag on December 24, 2025, in accordance with Russian and international law. It said that the vessel was boarded by US Naval forces outside their territorial waters, following which contact with the vessel was lost. Citing the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Russian ministry emphasised that freedom of navigation applies in international waters and that no state is authorised to employ force against vessels duly registered in the jurisdiction of another country."On December 24, 2025, the Marinera received a temporary permit to sail under the Russian Federation flag, issued in accordance with Russian law and international law. Today, at approximately 3:00 PM Moscow time, the vessel was boarded by US Navy forces in the high seas outside the territorial waters of any state, and contact with the vessel was lost," the statement read."In accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, freedom of navigation applies in high seas waters, and no state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered in the jurisdictions of other states," the Ministry of Transport added. Also Read: US Forces Seize Russia-Flagged Oil Tanker 'Marinera' in Dramatic Atlantic Chase - Is There a Venezuela Link?
