Sanctioned Russian Tankers Head to Cuba, Challenging US Blockade Amid Fuel Crisis

Two sanctioned Russian tankers carrying hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil and tens of thousands of tons of gas are en route to Cuba, as the island grapples with a worsening energy crisis, the Financial Times reported on March 18.

According to the report, the Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin loaded approximately 730,000 barrels of oil at the Primorsk port on March 8 and is expected to arrive in Cuba around April 4.

Samir Madani, co-founder of maritime intelligence firm TankerTrackers.com, told the Financial Times that a second vessel—sailing under a Hong Kong flag—is likely transporting around 27,000 tons of Russian gas, with arrival expected on March 23.

The shipments come amid severe fuel shortages in Cuba. The last recorded delivery to the island was a shipment of oil from Mexico on January 9. Since then, supplies have reportedly halted amid US pressure and restrictions affecting fuel flows to the country.

Cuban officials have acknowledged the deepening crisis. President Miguel Díaz-Canel said the country’s energy situation is becoming increasingly unstable, noting that no new fuel imports had arrived for roughly three months.

Previously, reports emerged that the situation prompted Havana to open talks with the administration of US President Donald Trump, as authorities seek ways to address what has been described as the most severe energy crisis in the island’s history.

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