THE United States said today that it intends to file criminal charges against the crew of a Russian-flagged oil vessel that its forces seized in the international waters of the North Atlantic the day before.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote on social media that the crew of the Marinera, also known as the Bella 1, undertook “frantic efforts to avoid apprehension” of the tanker, which was allegedly “responsible for transporting sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran.”

She added: “As a consequence of failing to obey the coastguard’s orders, members of this vessel are under full investigation and criminal charges will be pursued against all culpable actors.

“The Department of Justice is monitoring several other vessels for similar enforcement action — anyone on any vessel who fails to obey instructions of the coastguard or other federal officials will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Russia insisted today that the US was acting outside of international law.

“We call on Washington to resume compliance with the fundamental norms and principles of international maritime navigation and immediately cease its illegal actions against the Marinera and other vessels engaged in law abiding activities on the high seas,” a Foreign Ministry statement said.

“We reiterate our demand that the US ensure humane and dignified treatment of the Russian citizens comprising the tanker’s crew, strictly observe their rights and interests and make no obstacles to their prompt return to their homeland.

“The US government has repeatedly received reliable information, including from the Russian Foreign Ministry, about the ship’s Russian origin and its civilian status. They could not have had any doubts about this, just as there were and are no grounds for arguing that the tanker was sailing ‘without a flag’ or ‘under a false flag.’

“Russia did not give consent to these actions. On the contrary, it lodged an official protest with the US government regarding the pursuit of the Marinera by a US coastguard vessel over the past several weeks.”

In London, Defence Secretary John Healey admitted on Wednesday that Britain provided support, including surveillance aircraft, in support of the US action.

A Stop the War Coalition statement said it was “appalled” at the involvement of British forces in an “act of piracy.”

The group added: “We demand that the British government immediately stops all involvement with the illegal, provocative and more and more extreme actions of President Trump and publicly condemns Trump’s gangsterism.”