Russia has deployed a submarine and other warships to protect an empty oil tanker that is attempting to evade the US Coast Guard in the Atlantic Ocean.

The US Navy and Coast Guard yanked a suspected “ghost fleet” tanker accused of carrying sanctioned Venezuelan oil out of the Caribbean in a bold pre-dawn raid Friday.

The unusual naval move follows weeks of U.S. pursuit of a reflagged oil tanker tied to Venezuela, underscoring rising tensions over sanctioned crude shipments and global energy flows.

The U.S. seized the Russian-flagged Marinera oil tanker -- formerly known as the Bella-1 -- which has been linked to Venezuela and was transiting the North Atlantic, according to three sources familiar with the operation. And it also seized another tanker, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

The event honoring the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard was initially slated for November. It now will be held April 15-22.

According to the US military, the vessel was apprehended in a coordinated pre-dawn operation involving the Department of War and the Department of Homeland Security.