A Russian oil tanker approaches a Cuban port, testing U.S. embargo measures
United States – A sanctioned Russian oil tanker is expected to arrive in Cuba on Monday, defying the United States' fuel supply blockade against the island nation. According to maritime analytics firm Kpler, the vessel "L'Anatoly Kolodkin," carrying 7.3 million barrels of crude oil, was located off northern Haiti on Sunday and en route to the port of Matanzas in western Cuba.
Cuba has been cut off from fuel supplies since the last shipment of oil from Mexico on January 9th. Mexico ceased fuel deliveries to Cuba under pressure from the White House.
According to data from Kpler, a Hong Kong-registered oil tanker, "Hai Ma," which had reportedly been transporting Russian diesel to Cuba, ultimately entered Venezuelan waters. In January this year, U.S. forces detained Venezuelan President Maduro, leaving Cuba without its primary regional ally and main oil supplier. For the past 25 years, Venezuela has been Cuba's principal fuel provider.
Cuba frequently experiences power outages, each lasting more than 20 hours. Since early 2024, the country has suffered seven nationwide blackouts, two of which occurred in March.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has implemented multiple measures to conserve fuel, including strict rationing systems. Fuel prices have surged, public transportation has been drastically reduced, and some airlines have suspended flights to Cuba.
On March 19, the U.S. government (which has recently eased sanctions on Russian oil) clarified that such hydrocarbons are still prohibited from being shipped to Cuba or North Korea. On March 20, the Kremlin stated it is discussing ways to assist Cuba with its allies in Moscow but declined to comment on reports of Russia secretly shipping diesel to the island.
Moscow and Havana have enjoyed close ties since the Soviet era, and their relationship has strengthened further since Russia launched a large-scale military operation against Ukraine in 2022. The sanctioned "Anatoly Kolodkin" oil tanker loaded crude at the Russian port of Primorsk on March 8th and was escorted across the English Channel by a Russian naval vessel. However, according to the British Navy, once the tanker entered the Atlantic Ocean, the two vessels separated.
Source: rfi
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1861041158842393/
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