On January 7, 2026, the United States announced that it "executed a warrant" during the seizure of a Russian-flagged tanker in international waters. This operation was confirmed by U.S. officials, who provided no further details regarding the circumstances of the seizure.
The tanker has been described by the White House as part of a "Venezuelan shadow fleet," indicating its potential connections to Venezuelan operations. The U.S. government has not disclosed additional information about the tanker or the specific reasons behind the warrant execution.
For more on related developments, see our coverage on the White House"s characterization of the seized vessel.
