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Vladimir Putin’s naval forces “fled” when faced by the US military during the dramatic seizure of a shadow fleet tanker off Britain’s coast, according to former US President Donald Trump.

The tanker, the Venezuela-linked Marinera, was apprehended in the North Atlantic following a two-week naval pursuit by US and UK forces. The crew, which included Russian nationals, has subsequently been released, according to Moscow.

Trump, speaking publicly about the operation for the first time, described a tense confrontation in which Russian assets appeared to be prepared to protect the ship.

“The Russian ships, it was a submarine and a destroyer, they both left very quickly when we arrived,” Trump said, adding: “And we took over the ship and the oil is being unloaded right now.”

According to US intelligence sources, a Russian submarine and destroyer were identified near the tanker during the raid but quickly withdrew away when confronted by US forces.

The Marinera, formerly known as Bella 1, is suspected by Washington of shipping Venezuelan oil that violates sanctions as part of a covert Russian fleet meant to avoid global tracking and enforcement.

The operation has exacerbated geopolitical tensions between Washington and Moscow. Ukrainian researchers believe the seizure prompted Russia to unleash an Oreshnik nuclear-capable missile system in Ukraine that night, striking a major gas station in Lviv near the Polish border.

Russian authorities acknowledged that Trump authorized the release of Russian crew members following the seizure. “In response to our appeal, U.S. President D. Trump decided to release two Russian citizens from the crew,” according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Russian MPs responded fiercely to the abduction, accusing the US of being emboldened by the dramatic arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Aleksey Zhuravlyov, a senior defense committee member, called the operation an act of hostility.

British personnel played an important role in the mission, which was carried out jointly by the United States Coast Guard and the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense. Defence Secretary John Healey hailed the “skill and professionalism” of the British servicemen who participated.

The Marinera has previously sought to break US sanctions by changing its name, route, and flag, as well as painting a Russian flag on its hull, in an apparent bid for Kremlin protection.

Trump has indicated that US maritime enforcement actions will continue, stating the government plans to seize illegal vessels “until the waters are safe.”

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