Yesterday, Somali pirates dramatically seized a Russian oil tanker with 23 crew members and $52 million in oil aboard. But a "robust" response from a hearty band of Russian sailors has liberated the seamen—no oil necessary.

Hard to believe there were no filmmakers on hand to record what sounds like a lively, cinematic battle, in which the pirates were pounded by a Russian destroyer and totally overcome by a passionate onslaught.

The destroyer, knowing the merchant crew was locked down and safe, turned its guns onto the superstructure of the tanker as the pirates put up resistance. The Russian sailors offered a "robust" response, Commander Harbour said, and the pirates, thought to be from Somalia, eventually surrendered to a boarding party that took control of the tanker in the teeth of oppositions from its captors.

We report these incidents as accurately as we are able.
[Pic via]