A tanker from Russia carrying crude oil has crossed the English Channel into the Atlantic Ocean, sparking concerns that it might be en route to Cuba as a potential challenge to Donald Trump’s oil blockade. The vessel’s final destination remains uncertain, but experts caution that if Moscow intends to supply fuel to Havana, it could offer crucial support to Cuba’s struggling government amid a fuel crisis.
Cuba has been deprived of a significant fuel delivery since January 9, following the US’s control over Venezuela’s oil exports, cutting off a vital energy source for the island. This situation has exacerbated the crisis, leading to fuel shortages, skyrocketing prices, frequent power outages, and fears of a humanitarian disaster. Basic services like healthcare, education, and sanitation are deteriorating, while the national power grid is on the brink of collapse.
In response, the Trump administration has escalated pressure on other countries not to provide oil to Cuba, aiming to bring about political change in the country. The focus is on the Anatoly Kolodkin, a Russian state-owned tanker carrying around 730,000 barrels of crude oil, which could meet Cuba’s energy requirements for several weeks.
The vessel set sail from Primorsk on Russia’s Baltic coast on March 9, indicating its destination as “Atlantis, USA,” likely as a diversion tactic. Given that the tanker and its owner, Sovcomflot, were sanctioned by the US in 2024, a stop at a US port seems improbable. Analysts suggest that the ship is likely bound for Matanzas in Cuba, as per shipping data and industry sources.
The journey of the Anatoly Kolodkin has attracted significant attention, with military observers noting its passage through the English Channel escorted by a Russian naval vessel. This incident follows a recent episode involving another tanker, the Sea Horse, carrying gas oil of suspected Russian origin, which halted its journey to Cuba midway due to concerns from its Chinese owners about potential US repercussions.
The situation underscores the mounting challenges faced by shipping companies amidst the escalating tensions. Cuba, Russia, and Sovcomflot have not commented on the purpose of the Anatoly Kolodkin’s voyage, while the US has ramped up enforcement of its blockade, intercepting tankers heading towards Cuba. Despite these developments, General Francis Donovan assured Congress that the US has no plans to overthrow Cuba’s government, though Trump’s rhetoric against the island’s leadership has intensified.
In response to the crisis, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel accused the US of attempting to control the country and its resources through economic suffocation. He asserted Cuba’s readiness to resist any external aggression. Russia has expressed support for Cuba, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov offering assistance to the country in light of the economic challenges imposed by the US embargo.