Kyiv in crisis: how wild capitalism is exacerbating the devastation

Monday 19 January 2026, by Vitaliy Dudin

The year 2026 began with devastating Russian shelling of Kyiv’s infrastructure, which, in freezing conditions, brought the population to the brink of survival. The city, home to 3 million people, is experiencing an acute shortage of heat and water, and electricity is being supplied on a short-term basis. It has become clear that the authorities had no plan B in case of a catastrophic deterioration in the security and weather situation. However, the Putin gang’s insidious plan would not have been so painful if it weren’t for the vulnerability of the municipal infrastructure caused by Kyiv’s leaders. Mayor Vitali Klitschko has already called on all those who can to leave Kyiv. This leads to the conclusion that the authorities are unable to solve the problems of a city that is far from the front line.

Such statements place the responsibility for salvation on the people and do nothing but increase panic. In contrast, the response should be to introduce measures that increase social support and, as a result, strengthen solidarity. Giving people the feeling that they are in control of the situation and can make a difference is what would strengthen their belief in Ukraine’s victory.

Criticism of the situation focuses on the personalities of Kyiv’s leaders, but ignores the broader political context. The government’s inability to solve the pressing problems of the population stems from the fact that it is focused on serving the business elite. Therefore, it is extremely important to discuss the essence of the changes that will allow for the integration of urban services, the humanization of the work of municipal workers, and the maximization of benefits for the community.
Under the rule of business

It would be naive to deny the connection between the critical situation and the spontaneously capitalist course of the Kyiv authorities. For years, pieces of municipal property have been handed over to private owners, and there has been no development planning at the city level. Where the authorities proved to be systematic was in selling land to developers and protecting the interests of corporations. The capital had the flaws described by researcher David Harvey in his critique of modern cities: private capital focuses on selective development, while everything around it deteriorates. Developers overload urban communications, ignoring the destructive consequences of chaotic urban development. And then all Kyiv residents pay for it with their comfort due to the deterioration of utilities (heating temperature, water pressure, frequent accidents, etc.). The urban model, based on commerce and corruption, has never been sustainable and is now experiencing its deepest crisis in history. According to Forbes, before the invasion, Kyiv was the best city for business development, although the level of satisfaction with its development was critically low (38%).

During the war, a situation arose where emergency services were able to quickly overcome the consequences of shelling and save people, but people had to rely on their own resources to solve the related social challenges. We have a paradox: a city with a budget of UAH 100 billion cannot afford temporary social housing for resettlement, and utilities are provided intermittently.

A separate issue is the deplorable working conditions of critical infrastructure workers, on whose daily heroism many lives depend. For years, the authorities have been unable to set wages at a level commensurate with the existing risks, and only now have they started talking about bonuses for those involved in emergency work (we are talking about allocating 50 million hryvnias). Without effective worker control, such measures may be selective and sporadic. It is known that in 2023, the trade union of Kyivteploenergo had to go to court to force the employer to increase staff salaries.

Dissatisfaction with the state of wages even resulted in a petition demanding additional pay for operational personnel who perform their duties during air raid alerts. We should not forget about the situation with non-payment of compensation for injuries caused by Russian shelling, which is a measure of the authorities’ attitude towards such workers.

The problem is fuelled by mistrust due to the lack of real information about the state of housing and communal services: the accountability of both municipal and private enterprises is highly questionable, and the headquarters that are being set up bring together a limited circle of officials.
Who owns all the utilities?

There is no coordinated system for managing Kyiv and responding to challenges, which reflects the situation with control over property. The ownership structure in the capital’s housing and utilities sector is complex, with elements of communal and private (oligarchic) forms of ownership intertwined.

The largest companies in this sector are as follows:
Kyivteploenergo (100% municipal ownership);
DTEK Kyiv Electric Grids (100% private ownership);
Kyivgaz JSC (60% owned by Kyivenergo Holding PJSC);
Kyivvodokanal PJSC (67% owned by Kyivenergo Holding PJSC).

Given the pre-collapse state of the housing and utilities sector, the profitability of these companies is surprising. At the same time, Kyivenergo Holding, which has shares in a number of leading enterprises, is municipally and offshore owned, with a majority stake held by the city authorities (61%), which, as is well known, consist of friends of big business.

It is too early to say that Kyivteploenergo is a model of responsible management, as the company has shown itself to be extremely ruthless towards consumers of utility services. Through the efforts of its lawyers, this municipal enterprise has filed up to 26,000 lawsuits to collect debts; some of the claims in current cases date back 10 years. Pensioners, whose accounts are blocked during martial law, are forced to make their ‘contribution’ to the company’s profitability. The company itself does not hesitate to use martial law as a cover to ignore requests regarding its finances. The logic of ‘corporations are more valuable than people’ in action!
Disintegration and irresponsibility

Kyiv’s master plan for 2000, planned in the past.

Urban economy is a single complex system that covers all areas of the city’s life support (engineering networks, transport, amenities, social infrastructure) as interrelated elements that work for the functioning and welfare of the urban community. The fragmentation of this sphere by various entities leads to a lack of responsibility for its maintenance. It is nonsensical for these companies to be privately owned or to exploit the population for profit. Maintaining this chaos in times of war is a crime against the welfare of the community.

Freeing the housing and communal services sector from private influence and narrow market logic will help to align the interests of the community and consumers. And vulgar clichés about everything budgetary automatically becoming corrupt should be resolutely rejected. Firstly, in the absence of effective anti-corruption control over private companies, we do not know the extent of waste and abuse by their managers. Secondly, we cannot even imagine how effective municipal property with open accounting and under worker control can be in meeting needs. Thirdly, the net profit of 5 billion in Kyiv from the activities of municipal enterprises in 2024 refutes the thesis about the chronic unprofitability of this sector (another question is at what social cost this profitability is achieved). Fourthly, it is virtually impossible to ensure competition in the municipal sector, which means that private companies will act as monopolies.

The situation requires a change in approach to ownership of property used by all city residents. In order to provide the population with affordable goods and services, as well as to increase the city’s revenues, the possibility of municipalizing other public facilities, including catering establishments, should be considered. Only on this basis can the amount of available resources be determined and the priorities for production and distribution of goods be set correctly. This could curb the growth of inequality, as we are approaching a point where hundreds of thousands of people will not be able to cook for themselves at home, while shopping centres and restaurants will operate for their own benefit.
It is not too late to municipalize

So, the current crisis in the capital is a crisis of governance, caused by the disintegration of the economy and misguided anti-social priorities. However, at the same time, it may lead to an awareness of the need for radical changes, as a result of which the community will feel like a full-fledged owner. If we want to transform municipal companies from someone’s feeding trough into a means of salvation, we will have to take responsibility, resisting the myths about the magic of the free market and the omnipotence of corrupt bosses.

1. Socialisation of infrastructure as the basis for transparency. During wartime, nothing can be private or exist on its own — the entire system must work towards a single goal and for the good of the country. Monopolies must serve the community.

2. Effective worker control. Creation of rescue headquarters with the mandatory involvement of critical infrastructure workers. This body should have complete information about the state of the energy system and make decisions on the shutdown of enterprises that are not critical to the economy due to force majeure.

3. Cancellation of utility debts. Citizens should not suffer from accumulating utility debts when services are provided intermittently. It is unacceptable for utility companies to operate profitably by collecting funds from pensioners and people with disabilities.

4. Fairness for critical infrastructure workers. During the hardest years of the war, the heroes of the infrastructure worked almost for free, putting themselves at risk. The state must fulfil its debt to them and listen to the demands of the trade unions.

5. Support for the suffering population of the city. Instead of calling on people to leave, there should be benefits for those who stay. Heating in budgetary institutions and meals in catering establishments, compensation for the cost of installing solar panels at home. For remote workers, communal centres should be properly functioning so that they can work regardless of disruptions.
In addition, these measures should be combined with steps in the field of employment, such as counting the time spent in the city during blackouts towards insurance experience, voluntary involvement in socially useful work with decent pay, and the provision of paid leave for volunteering in the interests of the city.

If the logic of governance is not reoriented towards support, cities will face depopulation, inequality and stagnation.

Selfishness and the market have run their course; it is time to think municipally and collectively!

16 January 2026

Translated by International Viewpoint from Соціальний рух.

Attached documentskyiv-in-crisis-how-wild-capitalism-is-exacerbating-the_a9372.pdf (PDF - 1 MiB)
Extraction PDF [->article9372]

Ukraine
The reality of the front belies the Kremlin’s little music
What is wrong with US aggression against Venezuela?
Is Ukraine endangered by elections?
Fighting for the Least Unjust Peace
“Russia has erased Ukrainian feminist history”

Vitaliy Dudin is a member of Sotsialniy Rukh, Ukraine.

 Nestormakhno.info

www.nestormakhno.info/

The Nestor Makhno Archive

An Archive of material relating to Nestor Makhno and the Makhnovshchina.

Marxists.orgwww.marxists.org/reference/archive/makhno-nestor/index.htm

Nestor Makhno: Archive of the Ukrainian Anarchist Leader

Makhno was a Ukrainian anarchist revolutionary and the commander of an independent anarchist army in Ukraine from 1917–21.

Theanarchistlibrary.orgtheanarchistlibrary.org/category/author/nestor-makhno

Nestor Makhno - The Anarchist Library

A Few Words on the National Question in the Ukraine — Nestor Makhno Apr 10, 2021 6 pp. An Historic Injustice — Nestor Makhno May 19, 2021 5 pp.

Libcom.orglibcom.org/article/video-footage-nestor-makhno-1919

Video footage of Nestor Makhno, 1919 - Libcom.org

Fortunately the Hungarians sent the newsreel back before their revolution collapsed and it was eventually retrieved from the Soviet archives. Arbeiten. 14 ...

FOSSIL FOOLS

Last Czech deep coal mine closes as centuries-old industry reaches final day

Reuters | January 16, 2026 |

The ČSM coal mine in Stonava, owned by OKD. (Stock photo by davidjancik.)

The last Czech black coal shaft will shut at the end of January, closing the door on more than 250 years of deep mining and bringing to an end an industry that powered the rise of heavy industry in Central Europe.

The final tons are being hauled this month from kilometre‑deep shafts at the CSM mine in Stonava, near the Polish border, as low coal prices and Europe’s industrial and environmental transition sap demand for what was once the region’s most prized resource.

State‑owned OKD had been preparing to shut down three years ago, until Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 sent energy markets surging and bought the mine a short‑lived extension.

For the last time miners rattle into the dark on the underground railway, headlamps flickering across steel supports as machines drill into the coal face.

“It is sad that the shaft is ending, it is hard work but good work,” said Grzegorz Sobolewski, a Polish miner who is considering taking another job across the border in Poland, where shafts remain in operation.

“I will miss the work, I will miss the shearer,” referring to the cutting machine that slices coal from the face as it moves along the seam. Behind him, another miner shouted instructions over the roar of machinery – a sound soon to disappear from the basin.

OKD director Roman Sikora said the mine’s depth had become its weakness.

“Global coal prices are low, while our mining costs are ever greater with the ever greater depths we go to,” he said.

Industrial heartland faces post-coal future

Mining in the Ostrava region began in the late 18th century and turned a rural corner of the Habsburg empire into an industrial enclave.

Investors, including the Rothschild family, financed major industrial projects such as railways, steelworks and supporting infrastructure, helping draw tens of thousands of labourers into what became a powerhouse of heavy industry.

The industry got another boost after Communist nationalisation in 1948. In the 1980s, more than 100,000 miners worked the basin and OKD produced up to 25 million metric tons a year.

Much of that world collapsed after 1989 when communist‑era heavy industry unraveled, pits closed one by one and tens of thousands of miners lost their livelihoods.

When privatised OKD went bankrupt a decade ago, the state took it over to wind it down. By last October, OKD had mined just 1.1 million tons for the year and shrunk its workforce to 2,300, with another 1,550 to be let go in the coming months.

Workforce reshaped by decades of mine closures

Economist Jan Belardi of the Technical University of Ostrava said the 1990s and early 2000s were the hardest years, as the region grappled with mass redundancies and the slow arrival of new industries.

Today unemployment stands at 6.6% – still above the national average, but far from the levels of the post‑communist slump, bolstered by retraining schemes and foreign investors drawn to the area after the Czech Republic joined the EU in 2004.

“Being on the border with Poland and Slovakia, this region had a significant influx of foreign direct investment such as South Korea’s Hyundai,” he said.

Mining also leaves behind an environmental impact, including polluted lagoons or ground drops, and former mines’ surface installations.

The region is getting 19 billion crowns ($907.96 million) from the EU’s Just Transition fund for transformation of regions affected by the bloc’s decarbonisation policies, Belardi said.

In Poland, black coal mining still employs 70,000, and unions have won pledges to keep mining until 2049. In western Czech Republic, surface mining of lignite is expected to continue for several more years.

OKD itself is trying to shape a future above ground. The company aims to stay active in coal trading and develop new ventures including a battery park, a data centre and a small methane‑fuelled power plant using gas seeping from the old shafts.

“We have quite grand plans with OKD in the future,” Sikora said.

($1 = 20.9260 Czech crowns)

(By Radovan Stoklasa and Jan Lopatka; Editing by Louise Heavens)

US approves Warrior Met Coal’s mining plans in Alabama

Staff Writer | January 15, 2026 | 

The preparation plant at Warrior Met Coal’s No. 4 met coal mine in Alabama. Credit: Warrior Met Coal.

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), a branch of the US Department of the Interior, has announced the federal approval of Warrior Met Coal’s mining plan for two sites in Tuscaloosa county, Alabama.

Leasing of the federal coal tracts was approved after OSM reviewed an EIS (environmental impact statement) prepared by the Bureau of Land Management and determined that the company’s mining plan adequately addresses “potential adverse environmental effects” and satisfies its responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act.

The approval authorizes the recovery of more than 53 million tons of metallurgical coal — a designated critical material under the Energy Act of 2020. Met coal is used to produce coke, an essential fuel for producing high-grade steel used in a wide range of applications, including manufacturing, automotive and construction.

Last year, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to revive the country’s shrinking coal industry, rolling back key restrictions despite the fuel’s major role in climate change and pollution.

Trump directed federal agencies to lift Obama-era limits on coal mining, leasing and exports. He instructed the Interior Department to locate coal deposits on federal lands, remove barriers to mining, and fast-track leasing processes.

The mining plans for Warrior Met Coal’s Mine No. 4 and Blue Creek Mine No. 1 were advanced under Executive Order 14241, Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production, and Executive Order 14261, Reinvigorating America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Industry.

“Coal recovered from the approval of these mining plans will go to America’s allies for steelmaking,” OSM director Lanny E. Erdos said in a news release. “This will strengthen our national security by ensuring stable supply chains for critical defense materials and reduces reliance on rivals like China.”

At Mine No. 4, Warrior expects to extract about 16.9 million tons of met coal, extending the life of mine by seven years to 2046, while employing approximately 425 employees annually. At Blue Creek Mine No. 1, the company plans to extract about 36.3 million tons, extending the life of mine by 14 years to 2067, while employing approximately 500 employees annually.

Coal recovery from these mines is anticipated to generate more than $400 million in average annual economic output, the company said.

Heavy rainfall disrupts Australian metallurgical coal supplies

Bloomberg News | January 16, 2026 | 

Isaac Plains mine in Queensland, Australia. Image: Golding Contractors

Heavy rainfall in northeast Australia has triggered floods that are hampering mine operations and disrupting supplies of metallurgical coal in the region.

Some coal miners have declared force majeure on portions of their shipments or warned customers of potential delays, according to traders, who asked not to be named as they are not authorized to speak to the media. The companies include Stanmore Resources Ltd., GM3 — a joint venture between Golden Energy and Resources and M Resources Ltd. — as well as Pembroke Resources Pty Ltd. and Fitzroy Coal Sales Pty Ltd.

Major miners such as Anglo American Plc and Glencore Plc have also been impacted but have not declared force majeure, the traders said. Argus Media reported that the road and rail disruptions had limited Glencore’s ability to supply copper concentrate for multiple days.

The disruptions follow an unusually wet start to summer in Queensland state, where some areas have seen rainfall close to their monthly precipitation averages weeks earlier than normal, due in part to Tropical Cyclone Koji.

Forecasters are warning that another weather system could form over the region from Monday, potentially compounding the impact on mining and transport operations.

Elsewhere in Australia, heavy rain is affecting parts of Victoria, with flash floods sweeping away cars on Great Ocean Road.

Stanmore, GM3, Pembroke, Fitzroy Coal, Anglo and Glencore did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

(By Paul-Alain Hunt and Katharine Gemmell)

Floating Liquefied Natural Gas And Africa’s Gas Future: A Flexible Solution For Accelerated LNG Development

The Tango Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) facility. Photo Credit: Eni

January 7, 2026 
By Eurasia Review

Floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) is rapidly emerging as a cornerstone of Africa’s gas development strategy, as the continent prepares for a sharp rise in demand and seeks faster, more resilient pathways to market.

According to the African Energy Chamber’s (AEC) State of African Energy 2026 Outlook, Africa’s natural gas demand is projected to increase by 60% by 2050, underscoring the urgency of bringing new supply online efficiently and at scale. At the same time, Africa already hosts the highest concentration of FLNG infrastructure globally, positioning the continent as a natural testbed for floating solutions that monetize offshore resources while mitigating above-ground risks.

Accelerated FLNG Deployment

Early FLNG successes are already reshaping development models across the continent. Cameroon’s Hilli Episeyo FLNG project stands as Africa’s first operational FLNG facility and a global reference point. Brought online in record time, the project demonstrated how FLNG can rapidly unlock gas exports from relatively modest reserves. Since then, Africa’s FLNG market has expanded, with several projects now under development or in operation.

On the maritime border of Senegal and Mauritania, the Gimi FLNG vessel – situated at the bp-led Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG development and operated by Golar LNG – reached its commercial operations date in 2025. As the first FLNG unit deployed in the MSGBC region, the vessel will monetize up to 15 trillion cubic feet of gas through a 20-year Lease and Operate Agreement.

In Gabon, Perenco is developing the Cap Lopez FLNG project with a capacity of 700,000 tons per year, starting in 2026, with the unit being built by Dixstone. Offshore Nigeria, UTM Offshore is developing an FLNG facility at the deepwater Yoho field, a $5 billion project progressing toward FID. As Africa positions itself for the next phase of gas-led growth, FLNG stands out as a practical, future-focused solution – one that aligns technical innovation with the continent’s urgent development needs and long-term energy ambitions.

Implications for the Sector

One of FLNG’s most compelling advantages is scalability. Unlike onshore LNG developments, which require extensive land acquisition, supporting infrastructure and long construction timelines, FLNG facilities can be deployed in phases and scaled according to reservoir performance and market demand. This modular approach reduces upfront capital requirements and allows producers to accelerate first gas while preserving optionality for expansion. The Congo LNG project illustrates this approach: following phase one operations in 2023, operator Eni moved quickly toward phase two, bringing production online in 2025 – just 35 months after construction began and six months ahead of schedule. With first exports set for 2026, the project demonstrates how FLNG can be developed at speed and scale.

FLNG also helps mitigate above-ground risks – an issue shaping gas development strategies across Africa. Mozambique offers a clear example. Despite hosting some of the world’s largest gas discoveries, security challenges in Cabo Delgado caused delays and force majeure declarations on major onshore LNG projects. Offshore FLNG developments, however, have proven more resilient. Eni brought the Coral Sul FLNG project online in 2022, with the Coral Norte FLNG project reaching a $7.2 billion FID in 2025. While projects such as Mozambique LNG and Rovuma LNG faced delays, Coral utilized FLNG to reduce exposure to onshore security threats and logistical bottlenecks, enabling continued operations even in complex environments.

Making Energy Poverty History Through Gas

Beyond speed and resilience, FLNG could become a catalyst for Africa’s broader economic development. By reducing capital intensity and shortening development timelines, FLNG improves project bankability and attracts a wider pool of investors. It also supports gas-to-power strategies, petrochemical development and regional energy security by enabling monetization of gas that might otherwise remain stranded for years.

However, FLNG is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Successful deployment requires robust regulatory frameworks, clear fiscal terms and strong collaboration between governments, operators and financiers. When aligned with national gas master plans and long-term industrial strategies, FLNG can serve as a powerful bridge between exploration success and sustainable economic impact.

These discussions will be central at African Energy Week (AEW) 2026, where governments and industry leaders will explore how floating solutions can unlock Africa’s vast gas potential while managing risk and accelerating timelines. AEW continues to provide a critical platform for sharing lessons learned, advancing project dialogue and mobilizing capital into innovative LNG developments.

“FLNG is changing the game for African gas producers. It allows countries to monetize resources faster, reduce exposure to security and infrastructure risks, and generate revenues that can be reinvested into broader development. When deployed strategically, FLNG can help Africa turn gas discoveries into energy security, industrial growth and real economic transformation,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, AEC.

“The threat is not Venezuela, The threat is the US government.”

Trump Blockade of Venezuela, Murders on High Seas Violate International Law: UN Experts

“The illegal use of force, and threats to use further force at sea and on land, gravely endanger the human right to life and other rights in Venezuela and the region.”


Samuel Reinaldo Moncada Acosta, the Permanent Representative of Venezuela to the United Nations, reacts during an emergency United Nations (U.N.) Security Council meeting regarding the situation in Venezuela on December 23, 2025 at UN headquarters in New York City. Venezuelan officials formally requested the meeting last week, pointing to U.S. maritime actions and oil sanctions.
(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Jon Queally
Dec 24, 2025
COMMON DREAMS

Experts at the United Nations on Wednesday issued a scathing rebuke to US President Donald Trump’s aggression toward Venezuela, saying attempts to impose an oil blockade based on US-imposed sanctions and a series of bombings of alleged drug-trafficking vessels at sea are clear violations of international law.

“There is no right to enforce unilateral sanctions through an armed blockade,” said the UN experts.

According to their statement:
A blockade is a prohibited use of military force against another country under article 2(4) of the UN Charter. “It is such a serious use of force that it is also expressly recognized as illegal armed aggression under the General Assembly’s 1974 Definition of Aggression,” the experts said.

“As such, it is an armed attack under article 51 of the Charter – in principle giving the victim State a right of self-defence,” they said.

“The illegal use of force, and threats to use further force at sea and on land, gravely endanger the human right to life and other rights in Venezuela and the region,” the experts said.

Aggression is a crime attracting universal jurisdiction under international law, which gives all countries the power to prosecute it, although the most senior government leaders retain immunity from foreign prosecution while still in office.

The experts behind the joint statement were: Ben Saul, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism; George Katrougalos, Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order; Surya Deva, Special Rapporteur on the right to development; and Gina Romero, Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.

Their statement notes that the US sanctions imposed on Venezuela may be “unlawful” because they are “disproportionate and punitive” under international statute. The Trump administration has used alleged violations of US sanctions to justify its blockade and the seizure of vessels.

“The threat is not Venezuela. The threat is the US government.” —Venezuela UN Ambassador Samuel Moncada

The aggression of the US government toward Venezuela was also rebuked at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Tuesday, with China, Russia, Cuba, Colombia, and others backing Venezuela’s call for an end to the series of criminal boat bombings against alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific and the unlawful seizure of oil tankers as a way to coerce the government of President Nicolas Maduro.

Venezuela’s UN Ambassador Samuel Moncada equated Trump’s Dec. 16 order that the US was establishing a “total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers” coming into or out of Venezuela an admission of “a crime of aggression” by the US president, who Moncada said wants to “turn back the clock of history 200 years to establish a colony” in the Latin American country.

Moncada characterized the recent US seizure of two oil tankers in international waters as “worse than piracy” and “robbery carried out by military force,” warning that such brazen acts set “an extremely serious precedent for the security and navigation of international trade” in the region and worldwide.

“We are in the presence of a power that acts outside of international law,” he said of the US delegation, “demanding that Venezuelans vacate our country and hand it over. We are talking about pillaging, looting, and recolonization of Venezuela.”

During his comments to the council, Mike Waltz, the US Representative to the UN, defended Trump’s policies by calling the threat of “transnational terrorist and criminal groups” the “single most serious threat” in the hemisphere. Waltz repeatedly claimed, without providing evidence, that Maduro’s government is part of a criminal gang called “Cartel de Los Soles,” which Moncada said was “ridiculous” as the group is “non-existent,” an invention of the Trump administration.




Human rights groups, UN experts, and scholars of international have all stated that Trump’s extrajudicial targeting of alleged drug boats—which have now left over 100 people killed—are nothing short of “murder” on the high seas.

In their Wednesday statement, the four UN experts said the killings at sea ordered by Trump “amount to violations of the right to life,” citing the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which the US government ratified in 1992.

The experts called on all UN member states “to urgently take all feasible measures to stop the blockade and illegal killings” by the US government, “including through diplomatic protest, General Assembly resolutions, and peaceful counter-measures—and bring perpetrators justice.”

“Collective action by States is essential to uphold international law,” they said. “Respect for the rule of law, sovereignty, non-use of force, non-intervention, and the peaceful settlement of disputes are essential to preserving peace and stability worldwide.”

In his remarks, Moncada said Venezuela would defend itself against aggression but did not consider itself at war with the United States.

“Let it be clear once and for all that there is no war in the Caribbean, there is no international armed conflict, nor is there a non-international one, which is why it is absurd for the US government to seek to justify its actions by applying the rules of war,” Moncada told the council.

“The threat is not Venezuela,” he said. “The threat is the US government.”

Sanctioned Ships Still Loading Venezuelan Oil Despite U.S. Blockade

By Tsvetana Paraskova - Dec 23, 2025,

At least half a dozen sanctioned tankers have loaded oil from Venezuela since December 11, when the U.S. escalated the pressure on Venezuelan oil exports, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, quoting data from Kpler.  

Loadings of oil from Venezuelan ports appear to have been happening in recent weeks at a more or less typical pace despite the U.S. crackdown on vessels involved in illicit oil trade, according to Kpler’s data.   

Earlier this month, the Trump Administration intensified pressure on Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro by designating his regime as a “foreign terrorist organization”. 

U.S. President Donald Trump has also ordered a naval blockade offshore Venezuela to intercept sanctioned vessels trying to travel to and from the South American country.  

This weekend, the United States seized a second oil tanker offshore Venezuela.

Commenting on the seizure, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted on X that “The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco terrorism in the region. We will find you, and we will stop you.”

In an interview with Fox & Friends on Monday, Secretary Noem said that 

“We’re not just interdicting these ships, but we’re also sending a message around the world that the illegal activity that Maduro is participating in cannot stand, he needs to be gone, and that we will stand up for our people.”  

Most of Venezuela’s crude is being shipped on shadow-fleet tankers to China. The U.S. blockade is paralyzing this lifeline for Nicolas Maduro’s regime in Caracas. At the same time, the Trump Administration allows Venezuelan crude to flow to the U.S. Gulf Coast via shipments chartered by U.S. supermajor Chevron, which has a special license to operate in Venezuela and export to the U.S. part of the crude it pumps through its joint ventures there.   

President Trump’s military campaign against Venezuela is threatening an $8-billion market of shadow-fleet oil trade as the U.S. pressure on Venezuela is disrupting oil exports, with tankers diverting, crude piling up at sea, and Venezuelan state oil firm PDVSA facing imminent well shut-ins due to shrinking storage capacity.  

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

One Killed in U.S. Attack on Suspected Drug Smuggling Boat

Image courtesy U.S. Southern Command

Published Dec 22, 2025 10:56 PM by The Maritime Executive

 

On Monday, U.S. Southern Command announced the destruction of another suspected smuggling boat in the waters of the Eastern Pacific, the 29th such strike since the new campaign of lethal-force interdictions began on September 2. This instance marked a new turn: video released by the military appears to show the use of cannonfire and machine gun fire to destroy the target vessel, indicating the possible involvement of an AC-130J gunship previously seen in the region.

The first 28 interdictions appeared to be carried out at a distance using small guided missiles. In the initial Caribbean phase of the operation, U.S. officials told The Intercept that the strikes were being carried out by Air Force drone units attached to U.S. Special Operations Command. The attacks were conducted with single missile strikes, with a notable and much-debated exception - a follow-up strike conducted in early September. The video of that "double tap" strike has not been released, and the Pentagon asserts that it is classified.

The video released Monday is different from prior compilations: it shows repeated and frequent small impacts interspersed with explosions, and has visual similarities to prior exercises pitting an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship against small wooden fishing vessels.

Monday's suspected drug boat strike (U.S. Southern Command)

A 2024 live fire exercise in the Philippines centered on the use of the AC-130J (USAF)

At least one AC-130J is known to be operating in the Southern Command area of operations. Since mid-October, one airframe has been observed along with a P-8A maritime surveillance aircraft at Comalapa Air Base in El Salvador, a nation that enjoys friendly relations with Washington. 

The aircraft can carry Hellfire guided missiles on wing pylons, but its characteristic armaments protrude from the port side of the fuselage: a 105mm howitzer mounted on a recoil carriage and a 30mm chain gun. If accurate, the 29th drug-boat strike would appear to be the first time that these weapons have been employed in the new counternarcotics effort, and the first involving visual-range gunfire by U.S. servicemembers on scene. 

The legality of the strike program has been questioned by political critics, legal experts and even the United Nations' top human rights official. The program occurs outside of a declared war and targets criminal suspects in the smuggling trade, who have been historically viewed as civilians rather than combatants, even if their activities have lethal effects on U.S. citizens. 

In October, former International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo advised that the strikes could be considered planned attacks on civilian criminals, and as such, could be viewed as crimes against humanity under international law - opening the possibility of legal hazards for participating servicemembers. The Pentagon asserts that the strikes are fully lawful. 

China Protests U.S. Seizures of Venezuela-Linked Tankers

U.S. forces seize the tanker Centuries and its cargo of Venezuelan oil (USCG)

Published Dec 22, 2025 9:57 PM by The Maritime Executive

 

China's government is voicing its opposition to the Trump administration's campaign of tanker seizures off the coast of Venezuela. The U.S. Coast Guard has captured two China-bound tankers full of Venezuelan oil this month, and on Monday, President Donald Trump said that the U.S. government will be keeping both vessels and their cargoes. 

The first tanker seized, Skipper, was a stateless and sanctioned vessel. It was carrying about 1.85 million barrels of oil, according to TankerTrackers.com, and was headed to deliver the cargo to a Chinese buyer. The second, the VLCC Centuries, was also headed for China with about 1.8 million barrels on board. The U.S. sought and obtained permission from Centuries' flag state, Panama, before conducting a boarding. In an interview with local media on Monday, Panamanian foreign minister Javier Martinez-Acha said that Centuries had disabled its AIS transponder, changed its name and failed to respect Panama's regulations during its loading in Venezuela. 

China, which is the top buyer for Venezuelan oil, believes that Washington's recent tanker seizures in the Caribbean are out of line. At a press conference Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said that the boardings infringe on other countries' sovereignty and constitute "unilateralism and bullying."

"By arbitrarily seizing other countries’ vessels, the U.S. has seriously violated international law. China stands against unilateral illicit sanctions that lack basis in international law or authorization of the UN Security Council, and against any move that violates the purposes and principles of the UN Charter," Lin said. 

China routinely uses force in asserting its claims to sovereignty in the South China Sea, including areas inside of its neighbors' internationally-recognized exclusive economic zones. Earlier this month, China Coast Guard personnel injured several Filipino fishermen and damaged their vessel while attempting to drive them away from Sabina Shoal, a reef located well within the Philippine EEZ. The Philippine Coast Guard called the Chinese actions “unprofessional and unlawful.” 

Report: U.S. Coast Guard Awaits Specialized Team to Board Third Tanker

Coast Guard MSRT team prepares to board a Venezuela-linked tanker, December 20 (DHS)

Published Dec 24, 2025 3:41 PM by The Maritime Executive

 

U.S. officials say that the U.S. Coast Guard's "pursuit" of the sanctioned VLCC Bella 1 will come to a conclusion after a team of boarding specialists arrives on scene. The service's cuttermen and law enforcement detachments (LEDETs) are skilled at interdicting small craft, but boarding a noncompliant vessel on the high seas requires the specialized skills of a Maritime Security Response Team (MSRT), the counterterrorism SWAT units that the service created after the 9/11 attacks. 

On Saturday, American forces began chasing a tanker linked to Venezuela's oil exports, the third attempt at an interdiction this month. The vessel has been identified as the Bella 1, a stateless, sanctioned tanker with a past in the Iranian oil trade. Bella 1 was in ballast and approaching Venezuela, and it was the first ship that the U.S. targeted before it loaded a cargo. 

Bella 1 declined to submit to a boarding and reversed course, U.S. officials told the New York Times on Sunday. The Coast Guard continued its pursuit of the ship, according to the Times, and on Monday President Donald confirmed that a chase was ongoing. 

The Bella 1 is a VLCC with a deadweight in excess of 300,000 tonnes, and has a sea speed commensurate with her design. AIS data provided by Pole Star shows that over the past year, the tanker has rarely exceeded 12 knots. This is less than half of the speed required to outrun a U.S. Coast Guard cutter or a U.S. Navy surface combatant, and more than a few analysts have suggested that American forces should be able to conclude the "pursuit" in short order. 

The delay in boarding is not the result of difficulty in catching up to the tanker, two officials told Reuters. The service only has two active MSRTs, and those personnel are otherwise occupied. They have already captured two shadow fleet tankers this month, and the arrested vessels require onboard oversight and possible crew augmentation for their journeys to U.S. waters. The first tanker has already arrived off Galveston. 

Specialized Marine Corps and Navy units (like U.S. Navy SEAL teams) have world-class skills for boarding, search and seizure missions, but they lack the Coast Guard's legally-authorized law enforcement capabilities. Meanwile, standard Coast Guard units lack the SEALs' fast-roping skills for opposed boardings, officials said. 

So far, the services have not employed a pure Navy or Marine Corps unit to secure the vessel, followed later by a Coast Guard officer who could conduct legal procedures in a noncombat environment. Instead, the "pursuit" elements are waiting for an MSRT to be freed up to board the Bella 1 in international waters of the Atlantic, moving further from Venezuelan shores at a likely rate of 200 nautical miles or more per day.

The shortage of resources is a long-running theme for the Coast Guard. Congress and successive administrations have often viewed the agency's budget as a pay-for, a lower-priority item when compared to other missions - with consequences for readiness. Its eldest oceangoing patrol vessels are passing their 60th anniversaries in service, and it faces a persistent manning shortfall. 

"The Service is now stretched thin, with significant workforce shortages and aging, underfunded assets that often cannot meet mission requirements. The Coast Guard’s current organizational structure and reactive posture are no longer adequate to meet current and emerging challenges," commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday told a House committee earlier this year. Recent improvements in recruitment numbers will help going forward, as will a massive cash infusion for fleet recapitalization under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. 

Venezuela's Oil Exports Grind Towards a Halt Under U.S. Pressure

A sailor aboard USS Gerald R. Ford directs the launch of an F/A-18 fighter at an operating position in the Caribbean, Dec. 2025 (USN)

Published Dec 23, 2025 7:04 PM by The Maritime Executive

 

Venezuela is having difficulty in getting its oil to market due to U.S. tanker seizures in the Caribbean, multiple officials told the New York Times and Reuters. Two laden VLCC tankers have been captured by the U.S. Coast Guard; another  has been "pursued" back into the Atlantic without capture; at least several more have turned around mid-voyage, according to TankerTrackers.com; multiple tanker owners have declined signing new charters for future Venezuelan loadings, officials said; and about 30 tankers are stranded in the country's territorial seas, stranded by risk of capture and awaiting a safe political forecast for departure. 

The oil buyers who pay for state oil company PDVSA's shipments to China are reticent to approve shipments because of the risk of seizure, company sources told Reuters. Chevron's loadings for export to the United States have continued unaffected - the company confirms that it has experienced no disruption - but PDVSA's storage tanks are filling up. 

As an interim measure, PDVSA is using stranded foreign-flag tankers as floating storage, filling as many as possible in hopes of delaying the day when it will have to begin shutting in production for lack of a place to put the oil. So far, PDVSA has not declared force majeure to formally suspend loadings and reduce its contractual obligations. 

According to Reuters, this strategy has its limits: some customers are pushing to offload their cargoes back to Venezuelan terminals, freeing up their tankers for onward voyages with less risk of interdiction. 

To assuage buyers' concerns, Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro has dispatched the country's navy to escort outbound tankers on their way to China. But those escorts are stopping at the boundary of Venezuela's territorial seas,  according to the New York Times. So far, all interdictions have occurred in international waters. 

Venezuela's national assembly approved legislation to criminalize tanker seizures on Tuesday, and officials told the Times that Maduro is contemplating putting Venezuelan soldiers aboard outbound tankers in order to counter the risk of a U.S. Coast Guard boarding. However, this would raise the odds of a direct military-to-military clash, which could trigger a broader and more forceful U.S. intervention. The Pentagon has built up the most substantial naval task force seen in the region since the Cuban Missile Crisis, including the supercarrier USS Gerald R. Ford and a three-ship Navy-Marine Corps amphibious ready group. 

The U.S. pressure campaign is "probably" aimed at removing Maduro from power, President Donald Trump said Monday night at a press conference in Florida. 

"Well, I think it probably would. I can't tell him. That's up to him what he wants to do. I think it would be smart for him to do that. But again, we're going to find out," Trump said. "If he plays tough, it'll be the last time he's ever able to play tough. . . . We have a massive armada for him."