Sanctioned Russian oil tanker ‘noticed crusing by English Channel’ a day after US seized one other rogue ship off Iceland
A sanctioned Russian vessel was spotted sailing through the English Channel only a day after a Russian-flagged tanker was seized by US forces in Icelandic waters.
The ship was sanctioned by the US when it was named Tia in August 2024, but it is now sailing under a false name.
The tanker was renamed as Tavian, before switching again to the name Arcusat and reflagging to Cameroon.
On December 30, it departed STAR Rafineri, near Izmir, Turkey, and is likely heading towards Moscow.
It comes a day after the US Coast Guard seized a Moscow-bound tanker linked to Venezuelan oil in a dramatic commando-style raid.
Footage shows a USCGC Munro daringly chasing down the rogue Marinera vessel, previously called Bella 1, in an operation that saw Donald Trump‘s latest power play against Vladimir Putin.
RAF aircraft were involved in the operation to seize the tanker and UK airbases were used as launchpads for US military aircraft.
Alexander Kots, a veteran pro-government correspondent for the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper, wrote on Telegram that ‘nuclear war could be just one step away’ following reports of the US operation.
The ship was sanctioned by the US when it was named Tia in August 2024, but it is now sailing under a false name
On December 30, it departed STAR Rafineri, near Izmir, Turkey, and is likely heading towards Moscow
Alexei Zhuravlev, the first deputy head of the State Duma’s Defense Committee, echoed the sentiment, saying Russian ‘military doctrine even envisages the use of nuclear weapons in response to such an attack‘.
Moscow‘s transport ministry confirmed that all contact with the ship had been lost and condemned its seizure as a ‘violation of international law’.
Another Venezuela-linked tanker, Sophia, was seized by the US in the Caribbean on Wednesday, after both vessels were accused of evading sanctions.
The ship was sanctioned by the US when it was named Tia in August 2024, but it is now sailing under a false name
This is a breaking news story. More to follow.
