A Russian tanker carrying 7.3 lakh barrels of oil docked in Cuba’s Matanzas port on Tuesday, marking the first such delivery in three months, Reuters reported. The shipment was allowed despite a US energy blockade under President Donald Trump. Cuban officials thanked Russia as the fuel is expected to ease blackouts and shortages for about 9–10 days.

Havana: The Russian vessel Anatoly Kolodkin docked Tuesday at the Cuban port of Matanzas laden with 730,000 barrels of oil, marking the first time in three months that an oil tanker reached the island.

The administration of US President Donald Trump had allowed the shipment to proceed despite its ongoing energy blockade.

Cubans, including Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy, cheered the ship's arrival. A shortage of petroleum has exacerbated a deep economic crisis that has left the population mired in long blackouts and facing a severe shortage of food and medicine.

“Our gratitude to the Government and People of Russia for all the support we are receiving. A valuable shipment that arrives amidst the complex energy situation we are facing,” de la O Levy wrote on X.