Russian MPs urge military strikes on US ships following tanker seizure

Russian lawmakers in the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, have called for a military escalation against the United States, suggesting that Russian forces should begin sinking American vessels and targeting European infrastructure with Oreshnik missiles. The provocative statements come in response to the US military’s seizure of the Russian-flagged tanker Marinera in the Atlantic Ocean.

“US actions are piracy”

Alexei Zhuravlev, Deputy Chairman of the Duma Defense Committee, characterized the US intervention against the Marinera as “common piracy” and an attempted assault on Russian territory during an interview with the Podyom news outlet.

“We should strike with torpedoes, sink a few US Coast Guard boats… they are protecting their shores thousands of kilometers away from home and consider it ‘normal,’” Zhuravlev stated. “Only a slap of this magnitude can restrain the US, which is currently experiencing a state of euphoria over its perceived impunity following its special operation in Venezuela.”

“We must destroy enemy logistics”

State Duma Deputy Andrei Gurulev argued that the interference with the Marinera is a calculated component of Western preparations for a large-scale war. Speaking to Readovka, Gurulev asserted that Russia must take preemptive action to dismantle “enemy logistics” using all available assets, including the Oreshnik hypersonic missile system.

“What is stopping us from striking Rheinmetall, for example, which produces ammunition for Ukraine? Nothing. That would end the ammunition supply. We simply need the political will to shut down all these channels,” Gurulev remarked.

Diplomatic efforts prove futile

The Marinera tanker, which began flying the Russian flag after departing Venezuela, was intercepted by US Navy-supported coast guard forces in the waters between the United Kingdom and Iceland. The seizure proceeded despite formal diplomatic demands from Moscow for the US to cease its surveillance and pursuit of the vessel.

US European Command reported that the tanker, which was en route to Murmansk, was detained under a search warrant issued by a US Federal Court for alleged violations of US sanctions.

According to reports from Reuters, Russia deployed a submarine and several warships to escort the vessel; however, these assets were unable to prevent the seizure. The tanker had reportedly departed Venezuela under a “false flag,” allegedly claiming registration in Guyana to evade detection. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the ship’s crew, which includes Russian nationals, will face legal prosecution.