The Anatoly Kolodkin, which carries 730,000 barrels of crude, was north of Haiti on Sunday and was heading towards the port of Matanzas, in western Cuba, according to the maritime analysis company Kpler. Cuba has not imported oil since January 9, the date of the last delivery by Mexico before this country stopped its fuel shipments under pressure from the White House.
The Sea Horse, a Hong Kong-flagged tanker that had previously been reported carrying Russian diesel to Cuba, finally entered Venezuelan waters, according to data from maritime analytics firm Kpler. Cuba lost its main regional ally and oil supplier in January, when U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Caracas had become Cuba’s main fuel supplier over the past 25 years.
Collaboration between Moscow and Havana
Cubans experience regular power cuts that can last more than 20 hours. The country has suffered seven national power outages since the start of 2024, two of which occurred in March. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has imposed various measures to save fuel, including strict rationing. Fuel prices have soared, public transport has been drastically reduced and some airlines have suspended flights to Cuba.
On March 19, the American government, which recently eased its sanctions against Russian oil, clarified that these hydrocarbons still could not be delivered to Cuba or North Korea. On March 20, the Kremlin said it was discussing with Cuba, a country allied with Moscow, ways to help the island, nevertheless refusing to comment on information on a secret delivery of diesel of Russian origin.
Moscow and Havana, which have worked closely together since the Soviet period, have strengthened their ties since Russia launched its large-scale offensive against Ukraine in 2022. The Anatoly Kolodkin, which is subject to American sanctions, loaded oil in the Russian port of Primorsk on March 8. He was escorted by a Russian Navy ship across the English Channel. However, the two ships separated once the tanker entered the Atlantic Ocean, the British navy said.
