Two tankers carrying Russian oil for Cuba may never reach the desperate people they are intended for. Russian oil on troubled watersA Russian oil tanker carrying 700,000 barrels of crude oil was heading for the Cuban port of Matanzas until, according to maritime trackers, it changed course yesterday. The ship, which was sanctioned by the United States, the European Union and Britain, is one of two vessels carrying Russian oil reportedly bound for Cuba. Other reports said US coast guard vessels were in the region to prevent the Russian shipments from arriving in Cuba. But even if the Russian oil shipments are unable to land, the exercise of sending them carries some benefits for Moscow.

Source: The Irish Times March 24, 2026 09:39 UTC