Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on January 9, 2026
1 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
The US has released two Russian crew members from a seized oil tanker, amid tensions over Venezuelan oil exports. Russia is working to bring them home.
MOSCOW, Jan 9 (Reuters) - The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the United States had released two Russian crew members from a Russian-flagged oil tanker seized on Wednesday in the Atlantic Ocean.
In a statement, Maria Zakharova, the ministry's spokesman said: "We welcome this decision and express our gratitude to the U.S. leadership.
"We are proceeding with the urgent practical work on all issues related to ensuring the speedy return of our compatriots to their homeland."
Russia's Transport Ministry said on Wednesday that it had lost contact with the vessel, the Marinera, after U.S. naval forces boarded it near Iceland as part of what Washington says are efforts to block oil exports from Venezuela.
(Reporting by Lucy PapachristouEditing by Andrew Osborn)
An oil tanker is a ship designed for the bulk transport of oil and its products. These vessels are crucial for the global oil supply chain.
Trade sanctions are restrictions imposed by countries on the trade of specific goods or services with particular nations, often used as a foreign policy tool.
International shipping refers to the transportation of goods and commodities across international borders, involving various modes of transport, including sea, air, and land.
Explore more articles in the Headlines category
