U.S. authorities had seized the tanker formerly known as Bella 1 in the North Atlantic over sanctions violations after a weeks-long pursuit, the U.S. military announced on Jan. 7.

The announcement follows reporting that U.S. forces boarded the empty oil tanker, which was renamed Marinera and adopted a Russian flag after evading a U.S. blockade near Venezuela in December.

The unprecedented incident risks further inflaming tensions between Russia and the U.S., sharpened by Washington's military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of dictator Nicolas Maduro, Moscow's ally, and Russia's refusal to cease hostilities in Ukraine.

The move was part of what U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called a "back-to-back meticulously coordinated boarding of two 'ghost fleet' tanker ships," with another Venezuela-linked ship captured in the Caribbean.

The boarding of Marinera was carried out in coordination with the U.S. Justice Department, the Homeland Security Department, and the Defense Department, according to the U.S. European Command.

"This seizure supports @POTUS Proclamation targeting sanctioned vessels that threaten the security and stability of the Western Hemisphere," the command said on X.

Russia appealed to the U.S. to halt the pursuit and reportedly dispatched a submarine and other vessels to escort the tanker before it was boarded by U.S. forces.

Undisclosed officials told Reuters that the operation was carried out by the U.S. Coast Guard and the military.

Russian military vessels, including a submarine, were in the general vicinity of the operation, though there was no sign of a confrontation, according to the news agency.

The New York Times seemingly disputed this claim, writing that, according to its sources, no Russian warships were near the tanker. The U.S. military dispatched a Navy P-8 submarine-hunting aircraft and AC-130 gunships to assist with the capture, with several planes taking off from U.K. bases on the morning of Jan. 7, the newspaper reported.

The British Defense Ministry confirmed it has provided operational support to U.S. forces at Washington's request.

Russian state news outlet RT published footage of what is claimed to be a U.S. helicopter approaching the vessel.

"Today, at approximately 3:00 p.m. Moscow time, in the high seas outside the territorial waters of any state, U.S. naval forces boarded the vessel, and communication with the ship was lost," Russia's Transport Ministry said.

The ministry noted that the tanker was granted "temporary authorization" to sail under the Russian flag on Dec. 24, 2025, adding that "no state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered under the jurisdiction of other states."

The Russian Foreign Ministry, in turn, said Moscow "demands that the U.S. ensure humane and dignified treatment of Russian citizens on the ship" and "not to hinder... (their) prompt return to their homeland."