Ukrainian Embassy in US: Ukrainians are on board detained Russian tanker

Ukrainian citizens are among the crew of the Bella 1, the Russian vessel detained by the US Coast Guard.

The Ukrainian Embassy in the US said in a comment to European Pravda that it is "in constant contact with the competent American authorities". The embassy has also informed the US State Department of the need to ensure consular access to the Ukrainian citizens.

The diplomatic mission stressed that further steps will be determined after all the circumstances have been established.

"The embassy is keeping the situation under control and is taking all necessary measures to establish contact with the Ukrainian citizens," the embassy added.

REN TV, a Russian TV channel, claimed earlier that there are 20 Ukrainians, six Georgian citizens and two Russians on board. The embassy, however, did not confirm whether these numbers match its own data.

On 7 January, the US military took control of two tankers, including a Russian-flagged vessel it had pursued for more than two weeks. The vessels have been accused of breaching sanctions. The crews may face trial in the US.

US Vice President JD Vance said the Bella 1 (later re-registered in Russia as the Marinera) was merely posing as a Russian tanker to avoid accountability.

Russia's Foreign Ministry said US President Donald Trump had decided to release two Russians from the detained tanker. Kyiv is looking into reports that many of the crew members are Ukrainian citizens.