Russian tanker Bella 1 is being seized off the UK coast, Russian media has claimed, as photos of a reported helicopter assault leak online. The operation to seize the Venezuela-linked tanker has been confirmed by an US official.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the operation is being conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard in coordination with the U.S. military. The seizure is is currently taking place near Ireland, according to Russian media. Just hours ago US ship was spotted stalking the vessels. Amid escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed powers, the US dispatched submarine-hunting aircraft to track Russian warships in the North Atlantic.
The seizure — a move likely to inflame tensions with Moscow — followed the tanker’s escape from a U.S. maritime “blockade” on sanctioned vessels and its refusal to comply with Coast Guard boarding attempts. The ship had previously been operating under the name Bella-1.
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