Video: Russia sends nuclear submarine, warships to shield fleeing oil tanker in North Atlantic
Abdullateef Fowewe
In a bold move amid escalating U.S.-Russia tensions, the Russian Navy has dispatched a Borei-class ballistic missile submarine and multiple supporting vessels to escort the sanctioned oil tanker Marinera—formerly known as Bella 1—across the North Atlantic, shielding it from potential U.S. seizure.
The aging tanker, which loaded Venezuelan oil in violation of U.S. sanctions back in December 2025, fled Venezuelan waters and has evaded the U.S. Coast Guard for 17 straight days.
Now sailing under a fresh Russian flag—complete with a painted hull emblem—the vessel was last tracked near waters off Iceland and the United Kingdom, heading toward Russia.
U.S. officials confirmed the Russian deployment on Tuesday, describing it as a protective escort from Moscow’s Northern Fleet.
Video footage circulating online captures the dramatic departure of the black-hulled submarine from a Russian port under cloudy skies.
Tugboats maneuver the distinctive Borei-class sub—recognizable by its sleek sail and hull design—out to sea, with crew members in orange life vests standing in formation on deck.
A Russian naval ensign flies prominently as the vessel pulls away, splashing through waves before partially submerging and leaving a churning wake.
The grainy, documentary-style clip, likely archival or promotional from Russian military sources, underscores the operation’s high stakes.
The Bella 1‘s saga traces back to its shadowy history in Iranian oil trading, previously flagged under Guyana and Panama. Mid-voyage, it switched to Russian registry to dodge enforcement, prompting Moscow’s naval intervention.
No direct confrontations have occurred yet, but the tanker’s latest sighting off Ireland has U.S. and NATO forces monitoring closely.
