Russia says situation is escalating after boat incident
Cuban coast guard ships docked in Havana port on February 25, 2026. On Feb. 25, 2026, a gunman shot four people traveling on a U.S.-registered speedboat and injured six others during a shootout near the Cuban coast amid rising tensions with Washington, the Cuban coast guard said.
Adalberto Roque | Afp | Getty Images
The Kremlin on Thursday said the situation in fuel-starved Cuba had intensified after a fatal incident on a US-registered speedboat off the Caribbean island.
“We see an escalation of the situation around Cuba,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Russian state news organization RIA Novosti.
Peskov said, “The most important thing is the humanitarian element. Of course, the humanitarian problems of Cuban citizens should be solved and no one should create obstacles.” in question.
The comments came shortly after the Cuban interior ministry in question border guards killed four exiles and injured six others aboard a speedboat tagged Florida that entered territorial waters.
The 10 passengers on board were said to have opened fire on a Cuban patrol on the north coast of the island.
The Cuban interior ministry said the men, all Cuban citizens residing in the United States, were armed and some had previous criminal records. It was stated that the items seized on the boat included assault rifles, pistols, handmade explosives and camouflage uniforms.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the incident “highly unusual” and said the White House would “respond appropriately” after conducting an independent investigation.
Cuba is currently grappling with a worsening economic crisis amid a US oil blockade.
The Trump administration has effectively cut Cuba off from Venezuelan oil since it launched a military operation on January 3 to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Cuba said 32 of its citizens were killed in the attack.
US President Donald Trump has since said the Cuban government was posturing”an unusual and extraordinary threat” and promised to impose tariffs on any country that supplied him with oil.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with reporters in the departure lounge before returning to Washington following meetings with Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders at Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis on February 25, 2026.
Jonathan Ernst | Afp | Getty Images
Condemning US pressure, Cuba adopted measures to protect essential services and ration fuel supplies to key sectors.
The United Nations has warned of a possible humanitarian “collapse” in Cuba as the country’s oil supplies dwindle.
Mexico for its part I sent a new post Humanitarian aid will be sent to Cuba this week. The ships departed from the port of Veracruz on Tuesday with a total of about 1,200 metric tons of food supplies, according to the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In its statement, the Ministry said, “The Mexican people continue their tradition of solidarity with the people of Latin America, especially the Cuban people. Our country has always provided aid to our brother nations in need.” he said.
Food supplies are expected to arrive in Cuba on Saturday.
