Russia is reportedly using deceptive maritime tactics to covertly ship oil to Cuba in an effort to bypass U.S. sanctions, according to maritime intelligence firm Windward AI and multiple reports. This comes as Cuba faces severe fuel shortages and a recent nationwide blackout that left approximately 10 million people without power.
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Windward AI identified a Hong Kong-flagged tanker named Sea Horse as central to the suspected sanctions evasion. The vessel reportedly switched off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) near Cyprus during a ship-to-ship transfer, altered its declared destinations multiple times—from Havana to “Gibraltar for orders”—and sailed without Western insurance. These maneuvers suggest efforts to conceal cargo delivery to Cuba, likely occurring in early March.
Separately, the Financial Times reported that the Russian-flagged tanker Anatoly Kolodkin, carrying crude oil, was expected to reach Cuba by April 4.
The shipments come amid tightened U.S. measures since January 29 that have restricted fuel deliveries to Cuba, effectively creating an oil blockade. These measures followed shifts in Venezuela and the arrest of Nicolás Maduro, further limiting Cuba’s energy supply. The Trump administration has warned countries supplying oil to Cuba could face tariffs.
A senior U.S. State Department official told Fox News that while Cuban companies and citizens can legally purchase oil under existing law, the Cuban regime itself is prevented from doing so and is making legitimate purchases difficult. The official emphasized that Cuba’s ongoing energy crisis stems from “total government control of economic life” and urged structural reforms including privatization.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged Russia’s position, stating on March 17 that Russia is “ready to provide all possible assistance” to Cuba.
The recent blackout on March 16 marked one of the worst energy crises in Cuba’s history, with authorities and the U.S. Embassy confirming nationwide power loss. Another senior U.S. official described Cuba’s repeated blackouts as a symptom of regime mismanagement following over six decades of communist rule.
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