<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/russia-sends-oil-tanker-to-crisishit-cuba">The Russian-flagged tanker Anatoly Kolodkin</a> docked at Cuba's port of Matanzas on Tuesday, carrying approximately 730,000 barrels of crude oil — the first oil tanker to reach the island in three months.

The Russian-flagged tanker Anatoly Kolodkin docked at Cuba's port of Matanzas on Tuesday, carrying approximately 730,000 barrels of crude oil — the first oil tanker to reach the island in three months.

The Trump administration said it allowed the sanctioned vessel to proceed for "humanitarian reasons," with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stressing that the Russian shipment does not represent a "formal change" in sanctions policy.

The Trump administration said it allowed the sanctioned vessel to proceed for "humanitarian reasons," with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stressing that the Russian shipment does not represent a "formal change" in sanctions policy.

Trump told reporters on Sunday he had "no problem" with Russia or other countries sending oil to Cuba, saying "they have to survive," though he also said "Cuba's finished" and described its leadership as "bad and corrupt."

Trump told reporters on Sunday he had "no problem" with Russia or other countries sending oil to Cuba, saying "they have to survive," though he also said "Cuba's finished" and described its leadership as "bad and corrupt."

Cuba’s energy crisis deepened after <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/trump-orders-military-strikes-on-venezuela-facilities">the U.S. ousted Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro</a> in January, cutting off a key oil supply. Mexico also halted shipments following U.S. tariff threats, though it is now considering rejoining efforts to send fuel to the island.

Cuba’s energy crisis deepened after the U.S. ousted Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro in January, cutting off a key oil supply. Mexico also halted shipments following U.S. tariff threats, though it is now considering rejoining efforts to send fuel to the island.

Experts said the shipment would offer only limited relief, with estimates suggesting the diesel would cover roughly two weeks of demand, while analysts described Cuba’s power problems as "structural rather than episodic."

Experts said the shipment would offer only limited relief, with estimates suggesting the diesel would cover roughly two weeks of demand, while analysts described Cuba’s power problems as "structural rather than episodic."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia considered it its duty to assist Cuba, as Cuba's Foreign Ministry thanked "the Government and people of Russia for their solidarity." The U.S. said it would review any additional oil deliveries on a "case-by-case" basis.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia considered it its duty to assist Cuba, as Cuba's Foreign Ministry thanked "the Government and people of Russia for their solidarity." The U.S. said it would review any additional oil deliveries on a "case-by-case" basis.

Sanctioned Russian Oil Tanker Docks in Cuba

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Sanctioned Russian Oil Tanker Docks in Cuba

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