The Russian oil tanker playing chicken with Trump over Cuba

By Megan Messerly | 03/25/2026 06:30 AM EDT

Ferrying an estimated 730,000 barrels of crude oil across the Atlantic, the tanker is flying a Russian flag. A Russian warship escorted it through the English Channel. Next stop, Cuba?

Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures while speaking to Russian Paralympic athletes of the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Italy, during an awarding ceremony at the Kremlin, in Moscow, on Thursday, March 19, 2026.

While Russia's attempt to provide oil to Cuba may be half-hearted in the face of significant U.S. maritime opposition, Russia watchers say the signal it sends is not. Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Sputnik, Kremlin pool photo via AP

The Anatoly Kolodkin is steaming toward the Caribbean.

The Russian oil tanker’s official destination, according to one of its public broadcasts: “Atlantis, USA.” More probably, it’s the Cuban port of Matanzas.

Ferrying an estimated 730,000 barrels of crude oil across the Atlantic, the tanker is flying a Russian flag. A Russian warship escorted it through the English Channel, where it was tracked by the Royal Navy for 48 hours, only to turn back as soon as the tanker was clear.

While the Kremlin declined to confirm reports of Russian oil heading to Cuba, it also has made little effort to conceal its hand.

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