Russia will dispatch a second oil tanker to Cuba as the Caribbean island struggles under a US fuel embargo that has triggered widespread blackouts and economic hardship, Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev announced Thursday.
The announcement came just days after the sanctioned Russian vessel Anatoly Kolodkin delivered 730,000 barrels of crude oil to Cuba's Matanzas port on Tuesday — the first oil shipment to reach the island since January. That cargo could produce approximately 180,000 barrels of diesel, sufficient to meet Cuba's daily fuel demand for nine to ten days.
A vessel from the Russian Federation broke through the blockade. A second one is now being loaded. We will not leave the Cubans in trouble
Sergei Tsivilev, Russian Energy Minister — Russian state media
Cuba's energy crisis deepened dramatically in January when US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, cutting off the island's primary oil supplier. Venezuela had been providing crucial fuel shipments to its Caribbean ally, but those deliveries ceased following Maduro's removal from power.
The Trump administration subsequently threatened tariffs against any nation selling or supplying oil to Cuba, effectively creating what Russian officials describe as a total blockade. Mexico, which had been providing some oil shipments, halted its deliveries following Trump's tariff warnings.
Euronews presents the story as a humanitarian crisis, emphasizing Cuba's energy shortages and the impact on vulnerable populations. The outlet frames Russia's actions as breaking through a blockade to help an isolated ally.
The Hindu focuses on the geopolitical dynamics, highlighting the US-Venezuela conflict's impact on Cuba. The outlet presents Russia's deliveries as assistance to an ally facing American pressure.
Moscow Times frames the deliveries as humanitarian assistance while criticizing US sanctions policy. The outlet emphasizes Russia's commitment to not abandoning Cuba despite international pressure.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also called on the US to lift its energy blockade on the island nation.
Russia says will continue helping Cuba after first oil shipment arrives | Oil and Gas News | Al Jazeera
The announcement of a second shipment follows the arrival of a first oil tanker sent by the Kremlin earlier this week.
Russia Is Sending a Second Oil Tanker to Fuel-Starved Cuba - The New York Times
Cuba produces only about 40 percent of its required fuel and depends heavily on imports to maintain its deteriorating energy infrastructure. The fuel shortage has cascaded into broader economic disruption, forcing cuts to the state-run food ration system and creating shortages of water and medicine across the island.
Despite his administration's pressure campaign, Trump indicated he was not opposed to the Russian oil deliveries, suggesting they would not significantly help Cuba's government survive.
Cuba's finished. They have a bad regime. They have very bad and corrupt leadership and whether or not they get a boat of oil, it's not going to matter
Donald Trump, US President — reporters
Russia has framed its oil shipments as humanitarian assistance, emphasizing its historical ties with Havana and criticizing Washington's embargo strategy. The deliveries represent a direct challenge to US efforts to isolate Cuba economically, though the volumes remain insufficient to resolve the island's structural energy problems.
The energy blockade has left Cuba's most vulnerable populations bearing the heaviest burden, with extended blackouts disrupting daily life and economic activity. The communist-run government faces mounting pressure as basic services deteriorate and fuel rationing becomes more severe.
What remains unclear is whether Russia can sustain regular fuel deliveries to Cuba given international sanctions on Russian shipping and the logistical challenges of operating in the Caribbean under US scrutiny.