By Mykola Kuzmin

The cat-and-mouse game has ended with a decisive pounce.

As of January 7, 2026, U.S. Special Forces, backed by Coast Guard teams, have boarded the Marinera, formerly Bella 1 - in the frigid North Atlantic, just before Russian naval escorts could close the gap.

This isn't a mere sanctions slap, it is a calculated rupture in the gray-zone playbook, where Washington has pierced the veil of Moscow's hastily claimed sovereignty.

Boarding a vessel flying the Russian flag in international waters? Routine evasion is not the reason for doing it. It is only used when the reward within warrants starting a diplomatic firestorm.

Reports confirm the operation unfolded amid howling winds, with helicopters hovering and teams sweeping the deck.

The tanker, empty of crude but perhaps laden with secrets, had dodged an initial Coast Guard attempt off Venezuela in December, executed a U-turn, spoofed signals, and bolted northeast, painting a tricolor flag and slipping into Russia's registry like a counterfeit passport.

Moscow's response: dispatching a Yasen-class........

© LBC