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The Russian government described the incident that occurred on Wednesday in Cuban waters, where four crew members of a boat registered in the United States died during a confrontation with Cuban security forces, as an "aggressive U.S. provocation."
Maria Zajarova, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated to the TASS agency that Washington's goal is to "increase tensions and provoke a conflict."
For his part, Dmitri Peskov, spokesperson for the Kremlin, insisted on the need for restraint and noted that the response of the Cuban forces to the shooting was appropriate.
"The most important thing is the humanitarian component. The humanitarian issues of the Cuban citizens must be resolved and no one should create obstacles," Peskov stated to RIA.
For his part, the Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla stated that a "thorough investigation" is being conducted to clarify the armed confrontation that occurred.
"Cuba has had to face numerous terrorist and aggressive infiltrations from the U.S. since 1959, resulting in a high cost in lives, injuries, and material damages," declared the Minister of Foreign Affairs on X.
In the same message he added: "A rigorous investigation is being conducted to clarify the facts".
What happened in the confrontation?
The armed incident occurred on the morning of Wednesday, February 25, in Cuban territorial waters, specifically in the northeast area of the El Pino channel, in Cayo Falcones, municipality of Corralillo, Villa Clara.
According to a news release from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), authorities detected a speedboat registered in the state of Florida, identified with the number FL7726SH, navigating in Cuban waters.
According to official information, five members of the Border Guard Troops approached the vessel to identify it, but gunfire was opened from the boat against the Cuban agents, resulting in the commander of the patrol being injured.
In the confrontation, four people were killed and six were injured, who were evacuated and given medical attention.
Among the deceased is Michel Ortega Casanova, a resident of Tampa, while the identities of the other three have not yet been revealed. Ortega Casanova was described by Casa Cuba of Tampa as "a patriot, a man committed to the cause of freedom, and a member of the Republican Party of Cuba."
Who were the ones who were in the boat?
The MININT reported that the boat was carrying 10 armed individuals, all Cubans residing in the United States, some with criminal records.
The wounded and detained are: Amijail Sánchez González, Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, Conrado Galindo Sariol, José Manuel Rodríguez Castelló, Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, and Roberto Azcorra Consuegra.
Duniel Hernández Santos, connected to the group's reception, was also arrested in Cuban territory.
After the operation, Cuban authorities seized assault rifles, handguns, homemade incendiary devices, bulletproof vests, telescopic sights, and camouflage uniforms.
The incident occurs in a context of rising tensions between Washington and Havana, exacerbated by U.S. restrictions on the importation of Venezuelan oil to Cuba and the economic crisis facing the Island.
The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, stated that Washington will independently investigate the events and respond "accordingly," emphasizing that the United States does not make decisions solely based on information provided by Cuban authorities.
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