As the “evacuation” of Russian citizens visiting the Caribbean island begins, Russia will only operate flights to and from Cuba.
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Published February 12, 2026
Russian aviation authorities have announced that they are preparing to evacuate citizens visiting Cuba after jet fuel supplies were disrupted due to the U.S. oil blockade on Cuba.
“Due to difficulties in refueling aircraft within Cuba, Russian Airlines and Nordwind Airlines have been forced to adjust their flight schedules to the country’s airports,” Russia’s federal aviation regulator Rosaviatsa said in a statement on Wednesday.
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“Russian Airlines will only operate round-trip flights from Havana and Varadero to Moscow to ensure the evacuation of Russian tourists currently in Cuba,” the regulator said.
The Russian Association of Tour Operators announced earlier this week that around 5,000 Russian tourists could come to the island.
Separately, Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development urged people not to travel to Cuba amid the worst fuel crisis in years, caused by the United States cutting off oil supplies from Venezuela following the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces in early January.
Russia’s TASS news agency said the Russian embassy in Havana was in contact with national airline Aeroflot and Cuban aviation authorities “to ensure the safe return of our citizens.”
TASS news agency reported that Aeroflot announced repatriation flights for Russian nationals, and that the embassy in Havana told Russian media Izvestia that the Russian government plans to send oil and petroleum products to Cuba as humanitarian aid.
Cuba’s humanitarian “collapse”
Moscow, a traditional ally of Havana, accused the US of trying to “suffocate” the Caribbean island nation.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that the Russian government was discussing “possible solutions” to provide Havana with “all the support” it needs.
According to reports, more than 130,000 Russians will visit Cuba in 2025, making them the third largest group of visitors after Canadians and Cubans living abroad.
Air Canada, Canadian airlines Air Transat and WestJet have also reduced their flights to Cuba, citing fuel shortages.
Cuba has been in a deep economic crisis for years, largely due to years of U.S. sanctions stemming from Washington’s antipathy toward Havana’s socialist leaders, but the situation has become dire since President Donald Trump returned to the White House.
President Trump directly threatened the Cuban government and passed a recent executive order authorizing trade tariffs on countries that supply Cuba with oil.
Cuba can only produce one-third of its total fuel needs, but fuel shortages have caused widespread power outages. Bus and train services have been cut, some hotels closed, schools and universities restricted, and public sector workers forced to work four days a week.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned last week that humanitarianism would “collapse” if Cuba’s energy needs were not met.
