Russia to Send Crude Oil and Fuel to Cuba as Humanitarian Aid

The Russian Embassy in Havana told Izvestia that "as far as we know, Russia is expected to supply oil and petroleum products to Cuba as humanitarian aid in the near future," a statement carried across multiple outlets and repeated by Anadolu Agency. That embassy wording offered Cuba a potential lifeline amid what Moscow-side reporting described as an acute fuel shortage on the island.

Reports published around Feb. 12 said the shortage worsened after supplies from Venezuela were disrupted, with Russiaspivottoasia summarizing the embassy as saying the stop of Venezuelan deliveries "has aggravated this situation." Reuters and other outlets likewise reported that U.S. measures have moved to choke off Venezuelan exports to Cuba, a dynamic Moscow has portrayed as an attempt to "suffocate" the island nation.

Concrete logistics remain unspecified. The embassy did not provide volumes or exact sailing dates, and no ship names or manifests have been published. Russiaspivottoasia noted that sea freight from Novorossiysk to Cuba generally takes roughly 40 to 50 days for ocean cargo, including loading and unloading, which would place any actual arrival several weeks after dispatch if a vessel sails from that port.

Previous Russian assistance provides context but not certainty. En Cibercuba and Reuters report that Russia sent 100,000 metric tons of oil to Cuba in February 2025 under a state loan of $60 million. Cuban experts cited by En Cibercuba say the island consumes about 37,000 barrels per day and warn that a 100,000-ton delivery would be enough for only about 19 to 20 days of consumption at that rate; by contrast, Russiaspivottoasia reports Cuba is believed to have roughly three months' reserves, a discrepancy that stems from differing definitions of "reserves" and calculation methods.

Evacuation and travel logistics are already in motion. The Moscow Times reported that Rossiya Airlines will operate a number of return flights from Havana and Varadero to Moscow to repatriate tourists, while Anadolu Agency said the Russian Embassy maintains contact with Aeroflot and that Aeroflot announced evacuation flights from Varadero and Havana to Moscow. Russia's Association of Tour Operators told The Moscow Times that around 5,000 Russian tourists may still be on the island, and Russia's Ministry of Economic Development has advised against travel and urged operators to suspend sales.

Regional diplomacy is in flux. CiberCuba quoted Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez warning of "a harsh scenario that will demand great sacrifice" and denouncing "the criminalization of energy trade with the island." CiberCuba also reported that Washington threatened tariffs on any country providing oil to Cuba and that Mexico's government under Claudia Sheinbaum suspended crude shipments while continuing humanitarian deliveries via Mexican Navy vessels; Russiaspivottoasia offers a differing account that Mexico has nonetheless sent oil supplies.

Key details remain to be confirmed: exact cargo composition (crude versus refined products), tonnage, whether assistance will be a grant, loan, or barter, vessel names and sailing dates, and whether Mexico or other partners are supplying commercial crude beyond humanitarian shipments. Watch for formal confirmations from the Russian Embassy in Havana, the Kremlin or Ministry of Energy on authorisation and financing, Aeroflot or Rossiya Airlines flight schedules, and Cuban energy ministry import clearances to see when and how any shipments will arrive and what immediate relief they will provide.