Moscow: Russia has initiated the process of removing its citizens from Cuba with a deepening jet fuel crisis on the island that has disrupted aviation services and forced airlines to alter operations.
Russian aviation regulator Rosaviatsia said authorities are arranging outbound-only flights to bring travellers home after Cuba effectively ran out of jet fuel due to a United States-driven oil blockade.
Two Russian airlines, Rossiya and Nordwind Airlines, will operate flights only from Havana and Varadero to Moscow in the coming days to ensure Russian tourists can return safely. Once this repatriation phase concludes, regular two-way services are expected to be temporarily suspended until fuel supplies ease.
Thousands affected as crisis escalates
Russian tour operators estimate around 4,000–5,000 Russian visitors remain in Cuba and are being repatriated under this programme, which Moscow is coordinating with the Russian embassy in Havana and Cuba’s aviation authorities.
Humanitarian aid and broader tensions
In addition to evacuation efforts, Russia plans to send crude oil and fuel shipments to Cuba as humanitarian support in response to the energy crisis. The shortfall in petroleum supplies stems largely from US sanctions and pressure on oil exporters, which have cut off key sources of fuel to the island nation. Russia has condemned US policies as attempts to suffocate Cuba’s economy.
Broader impact on travel
The fuel shortage has also prompted other carriers, including Canada’s national airline and Canadian carriers such as Air Transat and WestJet, to cut or adjust flights to Cuba. Cuban authorities have warned that jet fuel will be unavailable at major airports for weeks, affecting global routes and tourism activity.
Cuba’s energy emergency has triggered widespread power outages, curtailed transportation services, hotel closures, and disruptions to daily life, with UN officials warning of a potential humanitarian collapse if the energy supply crisis worsens.
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