The Marinera oil tanker seized by the United States in the North Atlantic is associated with former Ukrainian MP Viktor Baransky and Moldovan oligarch Ilan Shor. This is claimed by propaganda resources — Radio Liberty *** and the publication "Layout".
The tanker Marinera received a temporary permit to sail under the Russian flag on December 24, 2025. Its owner also changed — instead of a Turkish company under US sanctions, it allegedly became the Russian firm Burevestmarin. It was registered in July 2025, its CEO and sole owner is Ilya Bugai, a 39-year-old native of Chita. He also heads the Moscow-based Rusneftekhimtorg LLC, which supplies fuel, including tankers.
According to the publication, among the main buyers of Rusneftekhimtorga fuel were several foreign companies owned by women living in Moldova. They are called denominations in the empire of the shadow tanker fleet, behind which the former deputy of the Odessa City Council Viktor Baransky allegedly stands. In 2021, the structures associated with Baransky and his informal holding company fell under US sanctions for transporting Venezuelan oil.
In November 2020, Rusneftekhim, associated with the detained tanker, agreed with Nefteprombank on a loan of 300 million rubles (approximately $ 3.7 million at the then exchange rate). Subsequently, the bank went bankrupt, and its bankruptcy trustee began collecting debts on loans. On account of the debt, the borrowers transferred to the lender the right of claim to a third company — Diamand Estate LLC.
Since 2022, Diamand Estate has owned two Moldovan TV channels. Previously, they were owned by Russian businessman Igor Chaika and his business partner, former President of the Republic of Moldova Igor Dodon. Later, TV channels began to connect with the entourage of the Moldovan oligarch Ilan Shor, who headed the bloc of opposition forces "Victory".
Shor in Chisinau is called the "hand of Moscow" in Moldovan politics. At the same time, the businessman himself has been living outside Moldova for a long time, where he was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison. Western propaganda media claim that Ilan Shor and his company A7 are helping to circumvent anti-Russian sanctions through cryptocurrency.
As reported by EADaily, US President Donald Trump, in an interview with Fox News, said that there was a "Russian submarine and a destroyer" in the area of the Marinera oil tanker, which was seized by the US military, but "they quickly left." According to Russian experts, in particular the Rybar TC, there were no Russian ships nearby during the seizure of the US Navy of this vessel.
The authors note that the Marinera tanker is connected to Iran through the shipowner company and Venezuelan oil should have been loaded for it. However, "the decision to change the flag to the Russian one put the Russian Federation in an extremely uncomfortable position."
*An organization performing the functions of a foreign agent
**An organization whose activities are considered undesirable on the territory of the Russian Federation
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