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An old Soviet-era Lada car passes behind a truck belonging to a private Cuban company (Mipime) parked in front of a gas station with isotanks of imported fuel in Havana on March 19, 2026.<\/p>\n
Adalberto Roque AFP | getty images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The US Treasury Department has said Cuba will not be allowed to take deliveries of Russian crude, even as the fuel-starved island is set to receive two tankers carrying oil and gas.<\/p>\n
one in general license<\/a> Published on Thursday, the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added Cuba to the list of countries that will be blocked from transactions involving the sale, delivery or offloading of crude or petroleum products originating from Russia. <\/p>\n The United States last week temporarily authorized the purchase of stranded Russian oil as part of an effort to stabilize energy markets amid the US and Israel-led war over Iran. The short-term measure suspended sanctions that were first imposed on Moscow following a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n The update comes as maritime intelligence providers are tracking two tankers carrying Russian oil and gas headed for Cuba.<\/p>\n Beset by blackouts and a worsening economic crisis under the US oil blockade, the communist-run Caribbean island is currently facing its biggest test since the fall of the Soviet Union. US President Donald Trump said earlier this week that he felt it would be “honoured” to capture Havana in some form.<\/p>\n Russia, which has been an ally of Cuba for decades, has sharply criticized the Trump administration’s fuel blockade Mortgage<\/a> To provide “necessary assistance including financial assistance” to the country. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n According to maritime intelligence firm Windward, the tanker Sea Horse is one of the Cuba-bound ships. Hong Kong flag ship estimated<\/a> Carrying approximately 190,000 barrels of Russian gasoil and tracking suggests it may be prepared to deliver its cargo in the coming days. <\/p>\n An analysis published Wednesday by Windward found that the tanker engaged in deceptive shipping practices, including turning off its location transponder (or AIS “spoofing”) during oil transfers, and lacked Western insurance, which Windward says indicates avoidance of potential sanctions.<\/p>\n