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Cuba Awaits First Russian Oil Shipment Amid U.S. Blockade

3/20/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Cuba expects the tanker Anatoly Kolodkin, carrying 730,000 barrels of Russian oil, to arrive in about ten days amid a U.S. blockade.
This would be Cuba's first oil since supply was cut off three months ago.
The Sea Horse tanker has rerouted to Venezuela after the U.S. clarified Cuba's ineligibility for Russian fuel.
Cuban officials say the incoming oil could ease the humanitarian crisis and restore essential services.

History

Historical Context

The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 drastically reduced Cuba's oil imports, which fell to just 10% of pre-1990 levels, crippling its economy. The arrival of the tanker Anatoly Kolodkin, carrying 730,000 barrels of Russian oil, underscores Cuba's ongoing energy struggles amid a U.S. blockade, highlighting its continued reliance on foreign oil to meet humanitarian needs and sustain its economy.

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Story summary

Cuba expects the tanker Anatoly Kolodkin, carrying 730,000 barrels of Russian oil, to arrive in about ten days amid a U.S. blockade.
This would be Cuba's first oil since supply was cut off three months ago.
The Sea Horse tanker has rerouted to Venezuela after the U.S. clarified Cuba's ineligibility for Russian fuel.
Cuban officials say the incoming oil could ease the humanitarian crisis and restore essential services.

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