Russia covertly ships gas to Cuba to bypass US sanctions, reviews say

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Russia is covertly shipping oil to Cuba utilizing misleading transport techniques to bypass U.S. sanctions, in response to maritime intelligence reviews, and because the island grapples with gas shortages and energy outages.

One alleged supply got here amid certainly one of Cuba’s worst power crises and forward of a grid collapse on March 16 which left roughly 10 million folks with out electrical energy, in response to Cuban authorities and the U.S. Embassy in Cuba .

"The Hong Kong-flagged tanker, which isn't sanctioned, has AIS patterns that counsel the tanker spoofed its location and certain sailed to Cuba to discharge its cargo in early March," Windward AI stated.

The Financial Times additionally reported March 18 that one other Russian-flagged tanker, Anatoly Kolodkin, carrying crude oil, was anticipated to achieve Cuba by April 4.

"We're prepared to offer all attainable help," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had instructed reporters at a briefing on Cuba on March 17, The Moscow Times reported.

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Russia makes use of misleading maritime techniques to bypass U.S. sanctions on struggling Cuba amid power shortages (AP Photograph/Ramon Espinosa)

The alleged shipments got here as senior officers on the State Division instructed Fox Information that, underneath current regulation, there are methods for Cuban firms and residents to buy oil, however stated the Cuban regime is making that inconceivable.

The U.S. oil embargo prevents the Cuban regime from buying oil solely, the official confirmed.

Windward AI first recognized the tanker, Sea Horse, as the important thing vessel within the suspected clandestine oil supply in its report on March 18.

The agency stated the vessel was thought to have transported round 190,000 to 200,000 barrels to Cuba whereas partaking in habits in keeping with sanctions evasion. Though the vessel just isn't underneath sanctions, Windward analysts flagged a number of suspicious actions.

These included switching off its Automated Identification System (AIS) throughout a ship-to-ship switch close to Cyprus — the place it possible loaded its cargo — and crusing with out Western insurance coverage, each widespread indicators of sanctions circumvention.

The tanker additionally repeatedly altered its acknowledged vacation spot, initially signaling Havana earlier than altering to "Gibraltar for orders," a tactic typically used to obscure last supply factors.

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A tanker crusing underneath the flag of Cuba, arrives on the port of Havana on February 9, 2026. (YAMIL LAGE / AFP through Getty Photographs)

After crossing the Atlantic , it appeared to float whereas broadcasting that it was "not underneath command," with analysts suggesting its AIS alerts might have been manipulated to hide its true location and actions.

These actions strongly point out that the vessel might have accomplished an unreported supply to Cuba earlier than resuming regular transmissions.

Since Jan. 29, U.S. measures — successfully creating an oil blockade — have disrupted gas shipments to the island.

The coverage shift adopted main modifications in Venezuela and the arrest of Nicolás Maduro , additional tightening provide to Cuba and discouraging different tankers from approaching its ports.

President Donald Trump had warned that international locations supplying oil to Cuba might face tariffs, whereas Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel condemned the measures as an "financial battle" and pledged continued resistance in a put up shared on X.

"The one method for Cuba to repair its power disaster is to deal with the foundation reason for its financial failures: whole authorities management of financial life," a U.S. official instructed Fox Information on March 17.

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Folks stroll on the road throughout a blackout in Havana, Cuba, on Monday, March 16, 2026. (Ramon Espinosa/AP)

"The regime should make important modifications, permitting for privatization and for the Cuban folks to offer for themselves," they stated.

In any other case, one other senior State Division official stated Cuba's blackouts have "sadly turn out to be widespread for a few years in Cuba — a symptom of the failing regime’s incompetence and incapability to offer even essentially the most primary items and providers for its folks."

"That is the tragic results of over 60 years of Communist rule. An island that was as soon as the crown jewel of the Caribbean has plunged into excessive poverty and darkness.

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"As President Trump has stated, what's left of the regime ought to make a deal and eventually let the Cuban folks be free and affluent, with the assistance of america," the official stated.

"Cuba proper now could be in very unhealthy form. They’re speaking to Marco," Trump instructed reporters March 17 earlier than including that "we’ll be doing one thing with Cuba very quickly."

Emma Bussey is a breaking information author for Fox Information Digital. Earlier than becoming a member of Fox, she labored at The Telegraph with the U.S. in a single day group, throughout desks together with overseas, politics, information, sport and tradition.