This is reported by Kyiv24
The Embassy of Ukraine in the US has confirmed that among the crew members of the oil tanker Bella-1 (Marinera), which was detained by the US Coast Guard, there are Ukrainian citizens. This was reported by Ukraine’s Ambassador to the US, Olga Stefanishina, who emphasized that the diplomatic mission is maintaining constant contact with American authorities and has already informed the US State Department about the need to provide consular access to the detained Ukrainians.
“We are in constant contact with American authorities and have already informed the State Department about the necessity of ensuring consular access to our citizens. The embassy is keeping the situation under control and is taking all necessary measures to establish contact with the Ukrainian citizens,” Stefanishina wrote in a closed Telegram channel, without specifying the number of Ukrainians involved.
Detention of the Tanker and the Role of Ukrainians
The seizure of the vessel occurred after a week-long pursuit by the US Navy. The tanker Marinera, previously known as Bella-1, was flying the flag of the Russian Federation and belonged to the company “Burevestmarin.” British forces also participated in the operation to detain the vessel. According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Russian state register of legal entities, the tanker was part of the so-called “shadow fleet” of the Russian Federation, which is under international sanctions.
Other Detained Vessels and Official Reaction
In addition to Marinera, the US Southern Command reported the arrest of two more vessels in the Caribbean Sea – the stateless Sophia and the tanker Olina, which were also part of the shadow fleet of the Russian Federation. According to media reports, there may also be Ukrainian citizens among the crews of these vessels. The Embassy of Ukraine in Washington has already sent an official request to ascertain the presence of Ukrainians on board the detained tankers to ensure their rights and provide necessary consular support.