Video: Russian oil tanker delivers lifeline to fuel-starved Cuba amid blackouts

Abdullateef Fowewe

A Russian oil tanker has docked in Havana, ending three months of fuel scarcity for the island nation and offering temporary relief from crippling blackouts and rationing.

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But locals caution the shipment will barely last two weeks, Dailyeconomy observed.

The Anatoly Kolodkin, carrying 100,000 metric tons of crude oil—roughly 730,000 barrels—arrived after a U.S.-enforced blockade delayed its journey.

The delivery provides a brief respite from Cuba’s energy crisis, exacerbated by U.S. sanctions on its key supplier, Venezuela.

Cuban residents expressed mixed emotions in interviews.

“It’s a start, but we’ll be back to square one soon,” one Havana local said, highlighting daily blackouts that have shuttered hospitals, schools, and public transport.

The single shipment is expected to cover diesel needs for just 12-14 days.

President Miguel Díaz-Canel called the situation “unprecedented,” urging citizens to conserve energy.

In a surprising move, U.S. President Donald Trump approved the tanker’s passage on humanitarian grounds—a rare exception to the long-standing embargo.

Russia has stepped up support for its ally amid the crisis, but experts warn sustained relief will require broader diplomatic shifts.