Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 2, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 2, 2026
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A Russian seafarer, Aleksei Galaktionov, detained in Yemen after a Houthi attack in July 2025, has returned to Russia following medical treatment in Sanaa and transport via a UN aircraft coordinated with Russian and Iranian counterparts.
April 2 (Reuters) - A Russian mariner detained for around eight months after being on board a ship attacked by Yemen's Houthi militants has left the country for Russia following medical treatment in Sanaa, the Houthi-run foreign ministry said on Thursday.
The mariner, identified by Russian media as Aleksei Galaktionov, was a crew member of a Greek-operated cargo ship that was sunk by the Houthis in July 2025. He was wounded in the attack.
"The Russian citizen was transported on a United Nations aircraft, in coordination with the U.N. envoy," the foreign ministry said, according to the Houthi-run news agency, adding that his departure was arranged after he had completed treatment.
It said the move followed contacts with Russian officials and with counterparts in Iran.
The crew of the ship was released in December, an official with the ship's operator and a maritime security source told Reuters.
The Iran-aligned Houthis sank the Liberia-flagged Eternity C, which had 22 crew and three armed guards on board, after attacking it with sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades over two consecutive days.
The Houthis have attacked more than 100 ships in what they said was a campaign of solidarity with Palestinians during the Gaza war. They halted attacks after a ceasefire was announced in October last year.
(Reporting by ReutersEditing by Bill Berkrot)
The Russian mariner, Aleksei Galaktionov, was a crew member of the Greek-operated cargo ship Eternity C attacked by Houthi militants.
He was detained for around eight months following the attack in July 2025 until his release after medical treatment.
The ship, a Liberia-flagged vessel named Eternity C, was sunk after being attacked with sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades.
The Houthis stated that their attacks were a campaign of solidarity with Palestinians during the Gaza war.
His departure to Russia was arranged via a United Nations aircraft after completing medical treatment in Sanaa.
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