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Russian Tanker Reaches Cuba Under Trump Administration Approval
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A Russian tanker carrying 730,000 barrels of oil arrived in Cuba. The vessel, named Anatoly Kolodkin, delivered the first major shipment of fuel to the island since January 9, when Donald Trump initiated a naval blockade.
The White House stated that the delivery was authorized for humanitarian reasons as the island faces a severe energy crisis, according to The Moscow Times on March 31.
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The Trump administration previously threatened to impose import tariffs on any nation supplying oil to Cuba. However, the president recently indicated that he did not oppose the Russian shipment.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that this decision does not represent a change in overall policy. She noted that the administration evaluates cases individually and that this specific approval was granted “to meet the humanitarian needs of the Cuban people.”
The tanker docked at the port of Matanzas, according to vessel tracking data. While the delivery provides some relief, the amount of oil is expected to cover only about one week of the country’s demand, which averages 100,000 barrels per day.
The raw oil must still be processed and distributed across an island where the power grid is in critical condition.
Cuba has experienced at least two nationwide blackouts over the past month. The lack of fuel and electricity has forced hospitals to cancel surgeries and limit services.
Many residents remain at home due to the collapse of public transportation, and schools have faced disruptions. The tourism industry, a primary source of foreign currency, has also stalled as airlines suspended flights because of the fuel shortage.
Conditions at the port of Mariel have become so dire that there is no fuel to operate cranes for unloading food containers. Many port employees are unable to report to work because transport services are not functioning.
Additionally, diesel intended for the US Embassy in Havana has been stuck at the port for weeks. The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to requests for the fuel by calling the US position “shameless,” citing the impact of the blockade on the island's economy.
Trump commented on the current state of the island to reporters on Sunday. He stated, “Cuba is in total chaos, it’s a country that’s falling apart, and it’s going to be the next one. It’s going to fall apart very soon, and we’re going to be there to help them.”
In mid-March 2026, two sanctioned Russian tankers carrying oil and gas were reported to be en route to Cuba to address the island's worsening energy crisis.
According to reports from that time, the tanker Anatoly Kolodkin had loaded approximately 730,000 barrels of oil at the Primorsk port and was expected to arrive in early April.
These shipments occurred during a period of severe fuel shortages, as no new deliveries had reached the island since a Mexican shipment in early January due to increased international pressure and maritime restrictions.
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