January 8, 2026
The United States has seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic for violating US sanctions after a weeklong operation. The sanctioned vessel is said to have fled the US blockade of sanctioned oil tankers operating in Venezuela in December 2025. The operations were supported by the UK Royal Navy. Russia has criticised the operation and accused the US of violating maritime law. The US also seized another sanctioned tanker, stating that it was ‘conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea’.