The Russian ambassador to Cuba, Víktor Koronelli, stated this Friday that Moscow will continue to send oil to the island, as part of the celebrations for the 66th anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between both countries.
In an interview with Canal Caribe, Koronelli recalled that the Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin was the only ship that managed to bring crude oil to Cuba in recent months, arriving on April 1 with 100,000 tons of crude oil, equivalent to about 730,000 barrels.
"The only tanker, the only oil vessel that arrived in Cuba and was able to break this blockade, this energy siege, was the Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin," the diplomat stated.
Koronelli assured that Russia will maintain its support, although he called on other countries allied with Cuba to join the effort: "We are going to continue, we will try to keep supporting Cuba, but I believe it would be very important if other countries, friendly countries of Cuba, also tried to break this blockade imposed by the United States, just like Russia."
The ambassador described the U.S. sanctions as a "completely unjust blockade, a criminal blockade that violates all norms of international law," using the official terminology of the Cuban regime and Moscow.
The shipment from Anatoly Kolodkin was the first significant delivery of oil to Cuba since December 8, 2025, and the state company CUPET confirmed the completion of the unloading on April 4.
However, the Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy, acknowledged on April 22 during Mesa Redonda that the Russian shipment would only last until the end of that month, leaving the country without confirmed deliveries for May.
The energy crisis worsened starting January 3, 2026, with the capture of Nicolás Maduro, which interrupted Venezuelan shipments of between 25,000 and 35,000 barrels daily, and deepened when Mexico suspended its deliveries due to debts exceeding 1.5 billion dollars.
On January 29, Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14380, which imposes secondary tariffs on any country that exports oil to Cuba, discouraging potential alternative suppliers.
The oil tanker Anatoly Kolodkin belongs to Sovcomflot, a sanctioned Russian state shipping company by the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom since 2024, highlighting the politically risky nature of the shipments.
Beyond oil, Koronelli mentioned other areas of cooperation discussed at the recent meeting of the Intergovernmental Mixed Commission in Saint Petersburg: nickel and cobalt mining, precious metals, agriculture, tourism, and airport infrastructure, as well as a joint taxi business project in Havana with participation from the Moscow government and the continuation of the Antillana de Acero project.
Meanwhile, blackouts in Cuba continue to worsen: this Thursday, the National Electric System recorded a capacity of only 1,370 MW against a demand of 2,850 MW, with over 1,495 MW affected.
Cuba produces only 40,000 barrels daily against a demand of 110,000, and must import two-thirds of its energy needs, a gap that Russian oil alone cannot fill.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov admitted on April 15 that Moscow's oil aid to Cuba "will probably last a couple of months," a warning that contrasts with the optimism expressed today by Koronelli before the cameras of Cuban state television.
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