The Anatoly Kolodkin, a Russian tanker under sanctions, is expected to arrive in Cuba on Monday, defying a blockade imposed by the United States on the communist island’s fuel supply, facing severe energy shortages.
The Anatoly Kolodkin, carrying 730,000 barrels of crude oil, was located north of Haiti on Sunday and heading towards the port of Matanzas in western Cuba, according to the maritime analysis company Kpler.
With a population of nearly 10 million people, Cuba has not imported oil since January 9, the date of the last delivery from Mexico before the country stopped sending fuel under pressure from the White House.
Jorge Piñón, Cuban energy sector expert at the American University in Austin, Texas, expressed surprise that the United States did not attempt to intercept the Russian tanker before it approached Cuba so closely.
“I think at this point, the chances of the United States trying to stop it have practically disappeared,” Piñón told AFP. Once the ship enters Cuban waters, “it will be almost impossible for the US government to stop it,” he pointed out.
The Sea Horse, a Hong Kong-flagged tanker previously reported to be carrying Russian diesel to Cuba, has now entered Venezuelan waters, according to Kpler data.
Cuba lost its main regional ally and oil supplier in January when US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Caracas had become Cuba’s main fuel supplier over the past 25 years.
Cubans are experiencing regular power outages lasting more than 20 hours. The country has suffered seven national blackouts since the beginning of 2024, including two in March.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has imposed various measures to save fuel, including strict rationing. Fuel prices have soared, public transportation has been drastically reduced, and some airlines have suspended flights to Cuba.
On March 19, the US government, which recently eased sanctions on Russian oil, specified that these hydrocarbons still could not be delivered to Cuba or North Korea.
The Kremlin stated on March 20 that it was discussing ways to help the island with Cuba, a Moscow ally, but refrained from commenting on reports of a secret delivery of Russian diesel.
