Russia evacuates tourists from Cuba as US-engineered fuel crisis deepens

Russia will operate only return flights from Cuba as ‘evacuation’ of Russian citizens visiting the Caribbean island gets under way.Published On 12 Feb 2026Russia is preparing to evacuate its citizens who are visiting Cuba, Moscow’s aviation authorities said, after a United States-imposed oil blockade on the island nation has choked off supplies of jet fuel.“Due to the difficulties with refuelling aircraft in Cuba, Rossiya Airlines and Nordwind Airlines have been forced to adjust their flight schedules to airports in the country,” Russia’s federal aviation regulator Rosaviatsia said in a statement on Wednesday.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Thousands celebrate 47th anniversary of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionlist 2 of 4US lawmakers slam Pam Bondi over handling of Epstein fileslist 3 of 4Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,449list 4 of 4Breaking with Trump, US House votes to pass a bill ending Canada tariffsend of list“Rossiya Airlines will operate a number of return flights only – from Havana and Varadero to Moscow – to ensure the evacuation of Russian tourists currently in Cuba,” the regulator said.About 5,000 Russian tourists may be on the island, Russia’s Association of Tour Operators said earlier this week.Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development separately called on citizens not to travel to Cuba amid its worst fuel crisis in years, caused by the US choking off supplies of oil from Venezuela following the US military’s abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in early January.Russia’s TASS news agency said the Russian embassy in Havana is in contact with national carrier Aeroflot and Cuban aviation authorities to “ensure our citizens return home safely”.Aeroflot has announced repatriation flights for Russians, TASS said, reporting also that the embassy in Havana told Russian media outlet Izvestia that Moscow plans to send humanitarian aid shipments of oil and petroleum products to Cuba.Humanitarian ‘collapse’ in CubaA traditional ally of Havana, Moscow has accused Washington of attempting to “suffocate” the Caribbean island nation.