The Anatoly Kolodkin oil tanker arrived at Matanzas port, east of Havana, on the morning of 31/3. The vessel completed a three-week journey from Russia, delivering 730,000 barrels of crude oil. Irenaldo Perez, deputy director of Cuba's state oil company CUPET, confirmed the Russian crude would be refined into gasoline, diesel, and fuel for backup generators.

Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed gratitude to Russia for this act of solidarity. They affirmed that "this valuable support comes amidst a US energy blockade". The Russian Embassy in Cuba echoed this sentiment on social media platform X, stating, "it is our duty to help our Cuban brothers in these difficult times".

The Russian oil tanker Anatoly Kolodkin arrived at Matanzas port, northwest Cuba on 31/3. Photo: AFP

The arrival of the tanker is a welcome relief for the island nation, which has faced severe energy shortages. Yoanna Rivero, 49, present near the port, remarked, "It's wonderful that the country is receiving oil, as we need it to cope with the current crisis", said Yoanna Rivero, 49, who was near the port. Felipe Serrano, a 76-year-old security guard, also eagerly awaited the ship's arrival, saying, "This is very important for us to survive because the country is paralyzed", he stated.

Cuba has been grappling with a severe energy crisis since January, when the United States blocked most oil supplies from Venezuela and Mexico. This situation has led to prolonged power outages and soaring food and transport prices across the country.

Despite the sanctions, US President Donald Trump stated on 29/3 that he did not oppose Russia or other countries supplying oil to Cuba, emphasizing that the Cuban people "need to live". The White House clarified that the US Coast Guard did not block Russian oil tankers bound for Cuba, citing humanitarian needs. Such decisions, they added, are made on a case-by-case basis. According to the Kremlin, the oil shipment to Cuba had been discussed in advance with the United States.

Jorge Pinon, a Cuban energy expert at the University of Texas, estimated the Russian shipment would meet Cuba's needs for approximately 12-13 days. Analysts project that the refining and distribution process could take about three weeks before the fuel reaches consumers.

Huyen Le (According to AFP)