Russia covertly ships fuel to Cuba to bypass US sanctions, reports say

Russia is covertly shipping oil to Cuba utilizing misleading transport techniques to bypass U.S. sanctions, in response to maritime intelligence reviews, and because the island grapples with gasoline shortages and energy outages.

One alleged supply got here amid one in all Cuba’s worst power crises and forward of a grid collapse on March 16 which left roughly 10 million folks with out electrical energy, in response to Cuban authorities and the U.S. Embassy in Cuba.

“The Hong Kong-flagged tanker, which isn’t sanctioned, has AIS patterns that recommend the tanker spoofed its location and sure sailed to Cuba to discharge its cargo in early March,” Windward AI mentioned.

The Financial Times additionally reported March 18 that one other Russian-flagged tanker, Anatoly Kolodkin, carrying crude oil, was anticipated to succeed in Cuba by April 4.

“We’re prepared to offer all potential help,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had advised reporters at a briefing on Cuba on March 17, The Moscow Times reported.

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Russia makes use of misleading maritime techniques to bypass U.S. sanctions on struggling Cuba amid power shortages (AP Picture/Ramon Espinosa)

The alleged shipments got here as senior officers on the State Division advised Fox Information that, beneath present legislation, there are methods for Cuban firms and residents to buy oil, however mentioned the Cuban regime is making that unimaginable. 

The U.S. oil embargo prevents the Cuban regime from buying oil solely, the official confirmed.

Windward AI first recognized the tanker, Sea Horse, as the important thing vessel within the suspected clandestine oil supply in its report on March 18.

The agency mentioned the vessel was thought to have transported round 190,000 to 200,000 barrels to Cuba whereas participating in conduct per sanctions evasion. Though the vessel will not be beneath sanctions, Windward analysts flagged a number of suspicious actions.

These included switching off its Computerized Identification System (AIS) throughout a ship-to-ship switch close to Cyprus — the place it seemingly loaded its cargo — and crusing with out Western insurance coverage, each frequent indicators of sanctions circumvention.

The tanker additionally repeatedly altered its said vacation spot, initially signaling Havana earlier than altering to “Gibraltar for orders,” a tactic typically used to obscure closing supply factors.

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A tanker crusing beneath the flag of Cuba, arrives on the port of Havana on February 9, 2026.  (YAMIL LAGE / AFP by way of Getty Photographs)

After crossing the Atlantic, it appeared to float whereas broadcasting that it was “not beneath command,” with analysts suggesting its AIS alerts might have been manipulated to hide its true location and actions.

These actions strongly point out that the vessel might have accomplished an unreported supply to Cuba earlier than resuming regular transmissions.

Since Jan. 29, U.S. measures — successfully creating an oil blockade — have disrupted gasoline shipments to the island.

The coverage shift adopted main modifications in Venezuela and the arrest of Nicolás Maduro, additional tightening provide to Cuba and discouraging different tankers from approaching its ports.

President Donald Trump had warned that international locations supplying oil to Cuba might face tariffs, whereas Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel condemned the measures as an “financial warfare” and pledged continued resistance in a submit shared on X.

“The one method for Cuba to repair its power disaster is to handle the foundation reason behind its financial failures: whole authorities management of financial life,” a U.S. official advised Fox Information on March 17.

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Individuals stroll on the road throughout a blackout in Havana, Cuba, on Monday, March 16, 2026.  (Ramon Espinosa/AP)

“The regime should make important modifications, permitting for privatization and for the Cuban folks to offer for themselves,” they mentioned.

In any other case, one other senior State Division official mentioned Cuba’s blackouts have “sadly change into frequent for a few years in Cuba — a symptom of the failing regime’s incompetence and incapacity to offer even probably the most fundamental items and providers for its folks.”

“That is the tragic results of over 60 years of Communist rule. An island that was as soon as the crown jewel of the Caribbean has plunged into excessive poverty and darkness.

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“As President Trump has mentioned, what’s left of the regime ought to make a deal and eventually let the Cuban folks be free and affluent, with the assistance of the USA,” the official mentioned.

“Cuba proper now’s in very dangerous form. They’re speaking to Marco,” Trump advised reporters March 17 earlier than including that “we’ll be doing one thing with Cuba very quickly.”