⚡ Intelligence Events Log 45
Seizures · Designations · Policy Changes · Infrastructure
UNIVERSAL (IMO 9384306, Sovcomflot, EU/UK/US sanctioned) confirmed AIS-dark in NW Atlantic with 10.0m loaded draught (~270K bbls diesel). ETA May 20 FOR ORDER. Cuba declared "absolutely no fuel" May 14. OFAC GL134a bars Russian oil to Cuba but vessel expected to attempt delivery under sanctions evasion. Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich escorted vessel through English Channel April. 9-day AIS blackout consistent with sanctions-evasion approach.
📎 Source: https://en.cibercuba.com/noticias/2026-05-06-u1-e208933-s27061-nid328209-petrolero-ruso-universal-permanece-deriva-confi
📅 2026-05-11
DELIVERY
🚢 MEXICO HUMANITARIAN AID SHIP 6
🏢 Government of Mexico (President Claudia Sheinbaum / SEMAR)
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced 2026-05-11 the dispatch of Mexico's 6th humanitarian aid ship to Cuba in 2026. Cumulative 3,125+ mt of food, medicine, hygiene products and SOLAR PANELS shipped since Feb 2026. Explicitly NO OIL (per Sheinbaum's standing position confirmed at the 2026-05-11 morning press conference). Sheinbaum: "Mexico will always be fraternal and supportive… particularly with Cuba." Aligns with Cuba-China solar-acceleration narrative (CNN 2026-05-13). Source: cubaheadlines 328873, cibercuba 328873, jamaicaobserver 2026-05-11, xinhua 2026-05-12.
📎 Source: https://www.cubaheadlines.com/articles/328873
Mexico dispatched its 5th 2026 humanitarian aid ship to Cuba, announced 11-May 2026 (Xinhua, Jamaica Observer). Cargo is non-petroleum (medical, food, basic supplies). Continues Sheinbaum administration's policy of rejecting the U.S. embargo while complying with the oil-blockade carve-out by routing all energy support through Russia. Vessel name and Cuban port-of-entry not confirmed in current OSINT — track for arrival manifest.
📎 Source: https://english.news.cn/northamerica/20260512/059885803fe84285a0e47baafc917f37/c.html
Russian tanker UNIVERSAL (IMO 9384306) drifting mid-Atlantic with 270K bbls diesel bound for Cuba. Departed Vysotsk Russia mid-April. Stalled ~1972nm from Havana under sanctions pressure. Speed 2-3kn erratic. Sovcomflot vessel sanctioned by US and EU. OFAC GL 134a explicitly prohibits Cuba from receiving Russian petroleum. New EO 14404 further restricts. Bloomberg reports vessel stranded at sea. Cuba fuel shortage worsening - needs 90-110K bbls/day, produces only 40K.
📎 Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-05/russian-fuel-tanker-stalls-off-cuban-coast-amid-us-blockade
UNIVERSAL (Sovcomflot sanctioned) slow approach Caribbean 2.2kn 246 WSW. Multiple course changes. No dest. Operating under constraints from US naval presence. If delivers=major sanctions breach.
📎 Source: https://www.cubaheadlines.com/articles/327606
SANDINO detected ACTIVE Caribbean after 31+d dark. Departed Cienfuegos Apr19. E at 10kn 8.3m draught. No dest. OFAC sanctioned. Major status change.
ANATOLY KOLODKIN loading Arctic crude Murmansk after delivering 730K bbls Urals to Matanzas late March. Possible second Cuba delivery. Triple-sanctioned shadow tanker broke fuel blockade.
📎 Source: https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/news/shadow-tanker-that-broke-cuba-fuel-blockade-loads-arctic-crude-in-murmansk/44956
⛽ 251,000 bbls
Sanctioned Russian tanker UNIVERSAL approaching Caribbean with 251K bbls diesel. 2nd humanitarian shipment. Slow speed suggests hesitation.
📎 Source: https://en.cibercuba.com
UNIVERSAL course change in N Atlantic. 31.08N 51.45W heading 323 NW at 3.4kn — diverging from Cuba. AIS 11 days old. ~251K bbls diesel. Escorted by Russian frigate. May evade US interdiction or delay for FLEX 2026. ~1,714nm from Havana. ETA May 5+. Cuba 1,400+ MW deficit.
📎 Source: https://en.cibercuba.com/noticias/2026-04-27-u207888-e207888-s27061-nid327340
NICOS IV (IMO 9103843, Flag: St Vincent & Grenadines) arrived Matanzas oil terminal Apr 29. Dark fleet adjacent vessel. Draught 8.1m. Departed Havana Apr 26. Delivering cargo to Matanzas — possible domestic redistribution or import delivery.
⛽ 251,000 bbls
Russian shadow fleet tanker UNIVERSAL (Sovcomflot) with 251,000 bbls diesel from Primorsk transiting Atlantic westbound toward Cuba. ETA Caribbean Apr 29. Escorted by Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich through English Channel. Second Russian fuel delivery attempt following ANATOLY KOLODKIN.
📎 Source: https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2026/04/16/latam-cuba-second-russian-oil-tanker/2931776348467/
UNIVERSAL (IMO 9384306, Barbados flag, Sovcomflot) now in NW Atlantic, ETA Caribbean Apr 23. Speed 4.9 kn. Was escorted by frigate Admiral Grigorovich through English Channel Apr 8. Russia Energy Minister confirmed Apr 2: "second ship being loaded." If delivery succeeds, would be second Russian oil delivery to Cuba (after ANATOLY KOLODKIN Mar 31). Violates OFAC GL 134a. Critical test of US interdiction capability.
📎 Source: https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2026/04/16/latam-cuba-second-russian-oil-tanker/2931776348467/
SEA HORSE (190K bbls Russian diesel) now heading to Tema, Ghana — final diversion away from Cuba. Triple-diversion pattern: Cuba → T&T → Venezuela → Ghana. OFAC GL 134a and US enforcement pressure successfully deterred delivery. Position 11°N 62°W, heading 277° at 10.4 kn, ETA Tema May 1.
📎 Source: https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/details/9262584
Second Russian tanker UNIVERSAL (IMO 9384306, Barbados flag, Sovcomflot) heading to Cuba with oil cargo. Departed Baltic early April, English Channel Apr 8 with naval escort. ETA Caribbean ~Apr 29. Russia Energy Minister announced "second ship being loaded" Apr 2. Testing US blockade for second time after ANATOLY KOLODKIN delivery Mar 31.
📎 Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-02/russia-testing-us-energy-blockade-of-cuba-with-second-oil-tanker
Second Russian tanker UNIVERSAL (Sovcomflot, triple-sanctioned) transiting NW Atlantic toward Cuba. ETA Apr 23-29. Escorted by frigate Admiral Grigorovich through English Channel Apr 8. Violates OFAC GL 134a.
📎 Source: https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2026/04/16/latam-cuba-second-russian-oil-tanker/2931776348467/
📅 2026-04-19
DELIVERY
🏢 Camilo Cienfuegos Refinery (Russian-donated crude distribution)
N/A (donation flow)
👤 Miguel Mario Díaz-Canel Bermúdez
👤 Camilo Cienfuegos
⛽ 730,000 bbls
Camilo Cienfuegos Refinery (Cienfuegos, ~65,000 bpd nameplate) began nationwide distribution of Russian-donated crude derivatives (gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, LPG) starting mid-April 2026, drawing from the ~100,000 t (~730K bbl) ANATOLY KOLODKIN delivery at Matanzas on 31-Mar. Truck and Unión de Ferrocarriles transport corridors run Cienfuegos → Pinar del Río and → Guantánamo. Cuban authorities concede the donation covers ~⅓ of monthly national demand. Reserves materially depleted by mid-May per Díaz-Canel's own 'oil is running out' statement, contextualizing the urgency of the UNIVERSAL drift status and the May-7 GAESA designations. Significance: confirms operational reactivation of the Cienfuegos refinery after its 9-Jan-to-April 2026 shutdown — a meaningful crisis-mitigation lever now back in production.
📎 Source: https://en.cibercuba.com/noticias/2026-04-19-u1-e208512-s27061-nid326368
SANDINO (OFAC-sanctioned) confirmed arrival Cienfuegos Apr 19. Draught 8.3m (partial cargo). Previously dark 31+ days but now confirmed operational. Departed east ~Apr 29 possibly toward Venezuela. Significant for Cuban fuel supply.
📎 Source: https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/details/9441178
⛽ 251,000 bbls
Russian tanker UNIVERSAL carrying ~251K bbls diesel changed course in mid-Atlantic, moving away from Cuba. Originally ETA Caribbean Apr 29. Vessel now drifting/slow speed (4.9 kn). Course 229.2° SW but reports indicate diversion. Russia Energy Minister had confirmed cargo for Cuba.
📎 Source: https://www.thecubanhistory.com/2026/04/
Cuba began distributing fuel from Russian crude delivered Mar 31. Grid deficit reduced to 1,012 MW (lowest since Nov 2025). Havana experienced days without blackouts. Matanzas worst-affected province still experiencing 30-48h outages.
📎 Source: https://en.cibercuba.com/noticias/2026-04-22-u1-e207888-s27061-nid326717
Second Russian tanker UNIVERSAL in NW Atlantic, ETA Cuba Apr 23. Sovcomflot-operated. Escorted through English Channel by Admiral Grigorovich.
📎 Source: https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2026/04/16/latam-cuba-second-russian-oil-tanker/2931776348467/
Refined products from Anatoly Kolodkin crude delivery (Mar 30) begin distribution from Cienfuegos refinery April 17. Diesel, gasoline, fuel oil, LPG produced. Only 800 tons/day distributed vs 1,600 needed. Matanzas province has worst blackouts in Cuba. Havana had 4 days without blackouts as of Apr 23 but rest of country still dark.
📎 Source: https://en.cibercuba.com/noticias/2026-04-19-u1-e208512-s27061-nid326368
Second Sovcomflot tanker UNIVERSAL detected in North Atlantic heading to Cuba. ETA Apr 29. Crossed English Channel Apr 8 with Russian Navy frigate escort. Russian Energy Minister confirmed dispatch Apr 2.
📎 Source: https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2026/04/16/latam-cuba-second-russian-oil-tanker/2931776348467/
AKADEMIK GUBKIN (triple-sanctioned Russian tanker, IMO 9842190) departed Nakhodka, Russia on April 9. Russian Energy Minister Tsivilev announced on April 2 that Russia is loading a second oil tanker for Cuba. If Cuba-bound, estimated 30-45 day transit. Departure coincides with GL 134A expiration April 11 — second shipment would face full sanctions enforcement.
📎 Source: https://www.euronews.com/2026/04/02/russia-to-send-second-oil-tanker-to-cuba-as-energy-crisis-continues-moscow-says
📅 2026-04-07
DELIVERY
Cuba began receiving electricity from a Turkish floating power plant (Karadeniz Powership). Partial relief for national grid. Maritime significance: Additional vessel now operating in Cuban waters providing critical infrastructure. Details on exact location/capacity to be confirmed in next scan.
📎 Source: https://turkey.news-pravda.com/en/world/2026/04/07/81153.html
Russia Energy Minister Tsivilev confirmed Apr 2: second oil tanker being loaded for Cuba. Vessel identity not yet confirmed. Will test US enforcement after GL 134 expires Apr 11. Bloomberg/Al Jazeera/Moscow Times confirmed.
📎 Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/2/russia-sending-second-ship-with-oil-to-cuba-amid-us-blockade
CRITICAL: OFAC-sanctioned tanker SANDINO arrived at Preston, Cuba (Holguin province) loaded with petroleum products (draught 13.2m near max capacity ~73K DWT). Vessel was AIS dark for 31+ days, loaded cargo covertly at unknown origin. Resurfaced with AIS active and moored at Preston. This constitutes a sanctions violation under OFAC Cuba sanctions. Cargo origin likely Venezuelan or Russian.
📎 Source: https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/details/9441178
⛽ 730,000 bbls
ANATOLY KOLODKIN completed discharge of 730K bbls (~100K MT) Urals crude at Matanzas Supertanker Base. First oil delivery to Cuba in 3 months. US allowed passage on humanitarian case-by-case basis. Crude to be processed at Havana/Cienfuegos refineries (15-20 day turnaround). Russia Energy Minister announced second tanker being loaded.
📎 Source: https://sputnikglobe.com/20260405/cuba-completes-unloading-of-russian-oil-tanker--oil-company-1123945221.html
⛽ 730,000 bbls
CUPET confirmed completion of unloading 100,000 tonnes (730,000 bbls) of Russian Urals crude from sanctioned tanker ANATOLY KOLODKIN at Matanzas Supertanker Base. Discharge completed Apr 4, vessel departed ~Apr 5. First oil delivery to Cuba in 3 months. Trump administration granted humanitarian exception despite OFAC sanctions. Fuel estimated to cover 7-10 days of national consumption. Turkish power barges expected to use this fuel for electricity generation starting second half of April.
📎 Source: https://en.cibercuba.com/noticias/2026-04-04-u1-e199894-s27061-nid324941
⛽ 700,000 bbls
Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsiviliov announced second oil shipment to Cuba at Energoprom-2026 forum in St. Petersburg. Tanker UNIVERSAL (Sovcomflot) to carry ~700K bbls (100K tonnes) crude. FM Lavrov called it humanitarian assistance. Ship departed Baltic early April, ETA Cuba Apr 29.
📎 Source: https://en.cibercuba.com/noticias/2026-04-15-u1-e199370-s27061-nid325995-rusia-aumenta-apoyo-cuba-nuevos-envios-petroleo
⛽ 730,000 bbls
Russian-flagged ANATOLY KOLODKIN completed unloading of ~730,000 bbls Urals crude at Matanzas. First tanker arrival in ~3 months. US Treasury granted a de-facto humanitarian exception despite GL 134a prohibition on Russian-origin petroleum deliveries to Cuba. Vessel is now ballast outbound, destination FOR ORDER in NW Atlantic.
📎 Source: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/03/30/russian-oil-tanker-arrives-in-cuba-after-trump-shrugs-off-his-own-fuel-blockad