English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
Experts estimate it will take between 15 and 20 days to process the crude oil and convert it into diesel, and another week to deliver the refined product. 14ymedio, Havana, March 31, 2026 / No oil tanker that has sustained Cuba’s energy system for decades had generated as much anticipation as the Anatoly Kolodkin , … Continue reading “Russian Oil Tanker ‘Anatoly Kolodkin’ Docks in Matanzas: “The AK We Need Now””
With the Guiteras thermoelectric plant offline, UNE anticipates an outage of 2,147 MW tonight. 14ymedio, Havana, May 25, 2026 / “Let the police come, I’ll tell them what’s going on in this país de pinga [fucked up country]!” The woman who exclaimed the curse word in broad daylight this Monday on San Rafael Boulevard in … Continue reading “The Russian Oil Tanker ‘Universal’ Moves Away From Cuba As Blackouts and Protests Grow”
The 730,000 barrels received provide a breath of fresh air to the regime for a few weeks, but do not lift Cuba out of its energy crisis. 14ymedio, Havana, April 19, 2026 — The Cuban government is trying to present the refining of 100,000 tons of crude oil donated by Russia in Cienfuegos as a … Continue reading “Cuba’s Largest Oil Company, Cupet, Begins Distributing Fuels Obtained From Russian Oil”
It is suspected that the Ñico López has suffered damage caused by a fire in February 14ymedio, Havana/Madrid, April 14, 2026 – Almost two weeks have passed since the Anatoly Kolodkin docked in Matanzas with 750,000 barrels of Russian crude, and the Ñico López refinery in Havana, which is supposed to convert the oil into … Continue reading “The Havana Refinery Is Not Operating and All Russian Oil Was Taken to Cienfuegos”
An envoy from Moscow gives no details about this cooperation and limits himself to noting that it involves restarting the Antillana de Acero plant, paralyzed by the lack of electricity 14ymedio, Havana, April 11, 2026 – Speaking Friday, the Russian Deputy Minister of Industry Roman Chekushov said, “We discussed with our Cuban partners that Russian companies … Continue reading “Russia ‘Is Working on an Energy Supply Plan’ That Includes Sending Another Oil Tanker to Cuba”
La ‘bola’ — the rumor — about free internet access through Starlink revealed that more and more Cubans and small private businesses are obtaining this expensive and illegal system 14ymedio, Havana, April 10, 2026 – March once again showed that in Cuba, rumors are not mere gossip but a way of surviving informationally in a … Continue reading “March Rumors Fantasized About Russian Oil and the Fall of Díaz-Canel”
During his visit to Russia, Pérez-Oliva secured promises of support from Putin’s government 14ymedio, Havana, April 2, 2026 – Moscow is preparing a second shipment of crude oil to Cuba following the arrival of the Anatoly Kolodkin, authorized by the United States after three months of an oil blockade on the Island, reported Russian Energy … Continue reading “Moscow Seeks to “Break the U.S. Energy Blockade” with the Shipment of a Second Oil Tanker to Cuba”
The U.S. president assures that anyone can send crude to the Island, despite the sanctions in force until now. 14ymedio, Madrid, March 30, 2026 – U.S. president Donald Trump downplayed the arrival of the Anatoly Kolodkin, loaded with Russian oil , which arrived this Monday in Cuba. “They have to survive! (…) I have no … Continue reading “Trump Welcomes the Arrival of a Russian Oil Tanker in Cuba: “They Have To Survive””
If the U.S. does not intervene, it will be the first fuel delivery since January 14ymedio, Havana, March 29, 2026 – Russia has tested the pressure of the United States on energy supply to Cuba with the dispatch of the tanker Anatoly Kolodkin, a ship loaded with crude oil heading toward the Island and whose … Continue reading “The Anatoly Kolodkin Is Scheduled To Arrive This Monday in Cuba With 730,000 Barrels of Russian Crude”
The New York Times points to suspicions that the vessel may be gathering intelligence as it passes through the Caribbean. 14ymedio, Havana, March 26, 2026 – U.S. concerns surrounding the Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin, which is heading toward Cuba, thus defying U.S. sanctions imposed on both Russia and Cuba, have put the U.S. Navy on … Continue reading “The Proximity of the Tanker Anatoly Kolodokin Sets Off Alarms About Russian Espionage in Cuba”
• Faced with this ban, the Sea Horse has changed course and is now looking for another port in the Caribbean to sell its cargo • The Anatoly Kolodkin, sanctioned by Washington, is continuing on its route and had a Russian Navy escort at the start of its voyage The United States suddenly banned the … Continue reading “US Will Prevent the Arrival in Cuba of Two Oil Tankers Heading to the Island with Russian Fuel”
Jorge Piñón, a researcher at the University of Texas, discusses the challenges and opportunities in a future island in terms of electricity and fuel. 14ymedio, Yaiza Santos, Madrid, June 12, 2026 / With a degree in Economics and Latin American Studies, Jorge Piñón (b. Cárdenas, Matanzas, 1947) worked for three decades in the oil sector—at … Continue reading “Cuba Should Close Its Old Power Plants and Refineries: “Sugar Cane Is the Energy of the Future” – A Must Read”
The Russian president recalled that the Island is “a friendly country” for Moscow and that bilateral ties continue 14ymedio/Agencies, Madrid, 4 June 2026 / Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted on Thursday that Moscow has maintained contacts with Washington over Cuba, amid speculation about a possible US operation against the Island. The leader offered no details, … Continue reading “Putin Admits He Spoke with the US About Cuba Amid the Spectre of a Venezuela-Style Operation”
The deputy foreign minister and other guests on Mesa Redonda justify the shooting down of the two Brothers to the Rescue aircraft 14ymedio, Madrid, 21 May 2026 / The United States’ ambivalent strategy toward Cuba has met its match in the island’s Foreign Ministry, which this Wednesday also responded to the same script with a bit … Continue reading “The Cuban Regime Calls Raúl Castro’s Indictment for “Defending His Airspace” a “Despicable Act””
Russian oil barrels are giving the capital a respite that will be short-lived according to the Cuban government’s own data. 14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodríguez, Havana, April 22, 2026 – “Today at four in the morning I went up to the rooftop and was impressed. It had been a long time since I’d seen all of … Continue reading “Cuba’s Official Social Media Celebrates a “Lit Up” City: Havana Regains Light and Buses for a Few Hours”