• Russia announces plans to send crude oil and fuel products to Cuba as humanitarian aid, with shipments expected soon following a last delivery of 100,000 metric tons in February 2025.
  • The move addresses Cuba's severe fuel shortages after Venezuelan supplies were cut off in mid-December, amid U.S. measures restricting oil to the island.
  • Airlines face jet fuel shortages, prompting evacuations and flight suspensions, while Russia positions the aid as solidarity against U.S. pressure.

Russia will send crude oil and fuel to Cuba as humanitarian aid, its embassy said on February 12, 2026, in a bid to alleviate an intensifying fuel crisis on the island. This upcoming delivery, confirmed by sources familiar with the matter, follows Russia's last shipment of 100,000 metric tons in February 2025 and comes as Cuba has not received oil imports since January, according to recent market data.

The crisis stems from the cutoff of Venezuelan supplies after the U.S. captured President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, with U.S. control over Venezuelan oil sales exacerbating Cuba's energy woes. An emergency executive order on January 29 imposed tariffs on countries exporting oil to Cuba, described by U.S. officials as a measure to counter "malign actions," effectively creating a near-total energy blockade. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez condemned the move, calling it a violation of international trade that creates "extreme life conditions" for civilians.

In response, Russia's aid is framed as solidarity against what it terms U.S. "suffocation" efforts, signaling intent to preserve its ally amid heightened Caribbean tensions. Without this deal, Cuba would face prolonged blackouts and transport halts, according to analysts tracking the region's energy dependencies. Efforts to secure alternative supplies have hit a snag, with U.S. pressure halting Mexican oil shipments to the island, leaving Russia as the primary lifeline.

The societal impact is stark: Cubans endure daily power outages and grounded flights, while international airlines must self-source jet fuel. Aeroflot is organizing evacuation flights from Varadero and Havana for stranded Russians, and Russia's Ministry of Economic Development has urged tourists to avoid Cuba and suspend travel sales due to the "fuel emergency." Canadian carriers have already suspended flights, citing jet fuel shortages, and stakeholders like tour operators report widespread disruptions.

Historically, Cuba depended on Venezuela for most of its oil under long-term agreements, with supplies stopping in mid-December after U.S. actions. This echoes Cold War-era Soviet support and recent Russian shipments during Cuba's 2021-2024 blackouts, underscoring a pattern of energy diplomacy in volatile markets. The latest aid may stabilize power and transport in the short term, but experts note it won't resolve Cuba's structural economic woes without broader reforms.

Looking ahead, the move deepens Russia-Cuba ties against U.S. isolation, potentially straining global oil diplomacy. Russia plans no travel suspension post-evacuation, according to embassy statements, but U.S. tariffs risk blocking future shipments. In a brief quote, a Russian official emphasized that "this humanitarian effort counters regime-change pressures," though market watchers caution it could inflame tensions in an already fragile Caribbean energy landscape. Attempts to reach U.S. State Department representatives for comment were unsuccessful at press time.

Correction: An earlier version misstated the timing of the last Russian oil shipment; it was in February 2025, not 2024.