Russia has lost communication with Marinera, transport ministry says
Vitaly Shevchenko
BBC Monitoring's Russia editorThe Russian transport ministry says "no state has the right to use force against vessels properly registered in other countries' jurisdictions".
It adds US forces boarded the Marinera at about 15:00 Moscow time [1200 GMT], after which communications with the vessel were lost.
On 24 December, the Marinera received a "temporary permission" to sail under the Russian flag, the ministry adds.
US Coast Guard boarded two tankers, says Homeland Security Secretary
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Watch: US seizes Sophia oil tanker in Caribbean sea
We can bring you some more details now on the dual operations to seize Venezuela-linked oil tankers, according to US officials.
The US Coast Guard boarded two “ghost fleet” tanker ships in a "meticulously coordinated" operation, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says.
Noem says one ship was in the North Atlantic Sea while the other was in international waters near the Caribbean. The operations took place within hours of each other, she adds.
The tankers, the Marinera and the Sophia—were "either last docked in Venezuela or en route to it", Noem adds.
The Marinera has been trying to “evade the Coast Guard for weeks”, she says.
Her post includes a short video showing thermal imagery of people appearing to board the Sophia by descending from a helicopter.
Around 10 people are then seen on an upper deck of the vessel.
Blockade of Venezuelan oil 'in full effect', US defence secretary says
ReutersWe have just heard from US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on the seizure of the Venezuela-linked oil tankers.
In a post on X, Hegseth says: "The blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in FULL EFFECT — anywhere in the world".
He later shared a similar message alongside a video of the US seizing a second tanker in the Caribbean sea.
US military says it seized second Venezuela-linked oil tanker in Caribbean
BreakingThe US has seized a second oil tanker, this time in the Caribbean sea, according to the US Southern Command.
The vessel, a "stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker", was apprehended in a pre-dawn operation, the military adds.
"The interdicted vessel, M/T Sophia, was operating in international waters and conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea," the US military says in a statement. "The US Coast Guard is escorting M/T Sophia to the US for final disposition."