Story perspectives

Cuba Receives Russian Oil Amid Ongoing Energy Crisis

3/21/2026

Center

Cuba Receives Oil

Cuba braces for its first oil shipment from Russia in three months amid an energy crisis.
The Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin will deliver 730,000 barrels of crude, potentially meeting Cuba's needs for up to ten days.
Another vessel, the Sea Horse, is en route with 200,000 barrels of diesel.
140 volunteers will deliver 6,300 pounds of medical supplies and food to Havana as talks continue with U.S. officials.

Right

Activists Deliver Aid

Hundreds of activists visited Havana to support the Nuestra America Convoy and deliver 20 tons of humanitarian aid, protesting the U.S. oil blockade.
Cuba faces a severe economic crisis with shortages of electricity, food, water, and medicine.
Critics, including Cuban exiles, say the visit is tone-deaf, in contrast to ordinary Cubans' hardships.
The convoy featured activist Isra Hirsi and streamer Hasan Piker, who broadcast from Havana amid Cuba's energy crisis.

Left

Granma Delivers Aid

An aid ship named Granma 2.0 departed from Mexico for Cuba to deliver humanitarian supplies amid Cuba's energy crisis caused by a U.S. oil blockade.
The cargo includes medical supplies, food, and solar panels as part of a broader international humanitarian effort.
Notable participants include members of the European Parliament and U.S. labor leaders.
The Cuban government has endorsed the mission, and Havana is the expected arrival port.

History

Historical Context

The U.S. embargo on Cuba began in 1960, following Fidel Castro's nationalization of American assets, leading to a severe economic downturn. By the early 1990s, the collapse of the Soviet Union exacerbated Cuba's crisis, with oil imports plummeting by 90%. Today, ongoing sanctions and recent U.S. interventions have intensified Cuba's economic struggles, prompting humanitarian efforts like the Nuestra America Convoy.

1 of 4

Cuba Receives Oil

Cuba braces for its first oil shipment from Russia in three months amid an energy crisis.
The Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin will deliver 730,000 barrels of crude, potentially meeting Cuba's needs for up to ten days.
Another vessel, the Sea Horse, is en route with 200,000 barrels of diesel.
140 volunteers will deliver 6,300 pounds of medical supplies and food to Havana as talks continue with U.S. officials.

1 / 4