The Marinera, which was seized by the U.S., isn’t the only ship from the “shadow fleet” of oil tankers to switch lately to a Russian identity, seeking protection.

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Alexei Zhuravlev's explosive statement, which included nuclear threats against Russia's enemies, comes at a time when reports indicate the Kremlin believes a confrontation with the United States is inevitable,

Russian troops are minimizing the number of their ships entering the Sea of Azov due to limited navigation routes and the high risk of being hit, according to Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk.