Russia says its 'glad' oil shipment arriving in Cuba amid US blockade

Russia welcomed the arrival of its oil shipment in Cuba despite the de facto US blockade of the island, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Shipping data indicated that the sanctioned Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin, carrying 730,000 barrels of crude, sailed off Cuba’s northeast coast on Monday.

The Kremlin said Russia considers it a duty to provide assistance to Cuba, noting the island’s need for petroleum products to maintain electricity, medical services, and other essential life-support systems. Peskov added that the matter had been raised in advance with US counterparts.