(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — The United States has significantly escalated its maritime enforcement against the Russian shadow fleet, with special forces successfully capturing another oil tanker. The vessel, identified as the Alina, was intercepted by United States Marines assigned to the Joint Task Force Southern Spear. The operation was launched from the USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest aircraft carrier in the world, as part of an ongoing campaign to tighten sanctions on Russian crude oil exports.
This latest seizure brings the total number of Russian shadow fleet tankers captured by the United States to five, with three of those taken in the last week alone. Between 4 and 6 January, an estimated 15 tankers reportedly attempted to break a naval blockade near Venezuela. While some vessels successfully performed escape manoeuvres, the United States has continued to pursue them across international waters. Two days ago, the tanker Marinara, previously known as the Bella One, was captured near Iceland following an extensive chase by the United States Coast Guard.
The United Kingdom has provided essential support for these maritime operations by offering surveillance data and the use of airfields. Despite attempts by the Russian dictator to evade sanctions by renaming vessels and changing their registrations, such as the tanker Veronica being renamed the Galileo under a Russian flag, United States officials have indicated that they will continue to seize vessels deemed to be operating illegally. Reports suggest that the United States has already begun the process of selling oil from confiscated tankers, though some seized vessels appear to have been empty at the time of capture.
Simultaneously, a diplomatic shift appears to be occurring in the Western Hemisphere. A delegation from the United States State Department flew to Caracas recently, marking a rare visit to Venezuela. Following this engagement, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez reportedly requested a personal visit to Washington D.C. to discuss a potential deal. Observers suggest that Venezuela may be reconsidering its trade alliances with Russia and China in favour of a more profitable arrangement with the United States, which would further isolate the Russian economy.
While the Russian dictator faces reputational and economic losses abroad, the Kremlin has intensified its campaign of terror against Ukrainian civilians. A significant strike involving the experimental Oreshnik missile was recently directed at Lviv, close to the NATO border. The missile, which travels at approximately 13,000 kilometres per hour, reportedly carried inert warheads and hit a forest area near an underground facility. Experts remain sceptical of the weapon’s conventional effectiveness, noting that the Oreshnik was designed primarily for nuclear delivery and lacks the precision of the cheaper, more effective Iskander ballistic missiles.
The conflict has also impacted international shipping in the Black Sea, where a vessel registered in Saint Kitts and Nevis was hit by a Russian drone while en route to a Ukrainian port. Another ship carrying soya was struck while docked in Odesa. These attacks have caused maritime insurance premiums to rise sharply. On the front lines, particularly in the Zaporizhzhia region, the Ukrainian military continues to repel Russian infantry infiltrations. Despite the Russian dictator’s use of suicide attacks and mercenary forces, Ukrainian counterattacks have successfully cleared entrenched positions, maintaining a resilient defence against the Kremlin’s ongoing aggression.