Russia is reportedly covertly sending oil to Cuba, utilizing misleading shipping strategies aimed at bypassing U.S. sanctions as Cuba grapples with significant fuel shortages and power outages, as highlighted in a maritime intelligence analysis.
Cuban officials noted that these oil shipments occurred prior to a major power grid failure on March 16, which left around 10 million residents without electricity amidst the country’s most severe energy crisis. The U.S. Embassy in Cuba has acknowledged the situation.
According to Windward AI, a tanker flagged in Hong Kong has not been authorized yet appears to have altered its location signals, likely traveling to Cuba to offload its cargo in early March. Financial Times reported on March 18 that another Russian vessel, the Anatoly Kolodkin, is projected to arrive in Cuba by April 4.
During a news update on March 17, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressed readiness to support Cuba.
In a related development, protests erupted in Cuba, with demonstrators reportedly setting fire to Communist Party headquarters amid gunfire, underscoring the country’s unrest.
The alleged oil deliveries emerge as a senior State Department official indicated that while Cuban businesses and citizens possess some means to procure oil, the governing regime complicates those efforts. The U.S. embargo effectively prevents Cuba from independently purchasing oil.
Windward AI first linked the tanker Seahorse to these clandestine oil shipments in a March 18 report. The vessel seems to have carried approximately 190,000 to 200,000 barrels to Cuba while engaging in behaviors consistent with evading sanctions. Although Seahorse hasn’t been sanctioned, analysts have noted questionable activities, such as disabling its Automatic Identification System (AIS) during a ship-to-ship transfer near Cyprus and operating without Western insurance—common signs of sanctions evasion.
The tanker frequently altered its stated destination, initially signaling Havana before switching to “Gibraltar for orders,” a tactic often used to obscure the actual drop-off point.
It appears that, after crossing the Atlantic, the ship emitted a signal stating it was “not in command.” Analysts suggest that its AIS data may have been manipulated to conceal its true activities and location.
These navigation patterns strongly imply an undisclosed delivery to Cuba prior to the tanker resuming standard communication protocols.
Since January 29, U.S. policies have created a de facto oil blockade that has hindered fuel shipments to the island. This shift comes in response to significant developments in Venezuela and the arrest of Nicolás Maduro, further straining supplies to Cuba and inhibiting access for other tankers to Cuban ports.
In recent comments, President Donald Trump cautioned that nations supplying oil to Cuba might face tariffs, while Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel criticized these actions as “economic warfare,” pledging resistance on social media.
A U.S. official remarked that the only resolution for Cuba’s energy predicament lies in addressing the underlying causes of its economic collapse, emphasizing the necessity for government control over economic life to shift.
Another senior official pointed out that the ongoing power outages in Cuba are a recurring issue, reflecting the regime’s failure to provide basic necessities for its population. This situation, they stated, is a tragic outcome of over 60 years of communist governance, transforming a once-thriving Caribbean jewel into a state of extreme poverty and despair.
In conclusion, Trump noted discussions with Marco Rubio concerning potential future actions regarding Cuba, saying, “Cuba is in a very bad situation right now.” He indicated that steps would be taken soon, focusing on fostering freedom and prosperity for the Cuban populace.
