Cuba faces severe energy crisis as fuel reserves deplete amid U.S. restrictions and end of Russian oil shipment
Cuba is experiencing widespread blackouts lasting 20–22 hours daily in Havana due to a complete depletion of diesel and fuel oil reserves. Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy attributed the crisis to a U.S. blockade on fuel imports now in its fourth month, compounded by the exhaustion of a one-time Russian oil donation received in April 2026. While solar power capacity has expanded, grid instability and lack of storage limit its effectiveness. Global fuel prices have risen due to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. The United Nations has declared the U.S. fuel restrictions unlawful. Some public protests have been reported, and Cuba continues efforts to secure new fuel supplies. Discrepancies exist between sources regarding U.S. military intentions and the nature of actions toward Venezuela.
Both sources agree on the core facts of a severe fuel and electricity crisis in Cuba driven by U.S. restrictions and compounded by global instability from the Iran war. However, they differ in emphasis and accuracy: Reuters presents a more legally and institutionally framed narrative, citing the UN and systemic impacts, while CNN introduces more dramatic, conflict-oriented elements—including unverified claims of U.S. military intentions and an alleged attack on Venezuela. CNN offers broader narrative scope but with higher risk of misinformation. Reuters is more restrained but omits signs of internal unrest.
- ✓ Cuba has run out of diesel and fuel oil.
- ✓ Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy (or de la O) made public statements about the crisis on May 13, 2026.
- ✓ The national power grid is in a critical state, with Havana experiencing 20–22 hours of blackouts per day.
- ✓ A single Russian oil shipment (Anatoly Kolodkin) arrived in April and was used up by early May.
- ✓ The U.S. has imposed a blockade or severe restrictions on fuel imports to Cuba for over four months.
- ✓ Cuba is relying more on solar power, but grid instability and lack of storage limit effectiveness.
- ✓ Global oil and transportation prices have risen, partly due to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.
Cause of fuel shortage
Emphasizes the exhaustion of a temporary Russian oil donation as the immediate trigger, with U.S. blockade as a sustaining factor.
Primarily attributes the crisis to the U.S. oil blockade and global price increases due to the Iran war.
U.S. actions toward Venezuela
Claims a 'U.S. attack on Venezuela,' which is not supported by additional context and appears exaggerated or false.
Mentions Trump executive order threatening tariffs on fuel shipments to Cuba via Venezuela.
Domestic unrest
Reports 'pot-banging' protests, indicating civil unrest.
Does not mention protests or public dissent.
U.S. military intentions
Claims Trump is 'considering using military force to take the island,' a significant escalation not corroborated by other sources.
Does not mention U.S. military plans.
Solar energy effectiveness
Focuses on weather dependency and lack of storage batteries, not grid instability.
Notes 1,300 MW of solar installed but lost to grid instability.
Reuters
Framing: Reuters frames the event primarily as a humanitarian and developmental crisis caused by external geopolitical pressure—specifically the U.S. oil blockade. The narrative centers on Cuba’s energy collapse as a consequence of U.S. policy, emphasizing the suffering of ordinary citizens due to shortages in fuel, electricity, food, and medicine. The U.S. is portrayed as the primary antagonist, with the blockade depicted as unlawful and in violation of international norms.
Tone: Alarmist, sympathetic to the Cuban government, and critical of U.S. foreign policy. The tone emphasizes urgency and crisis, with repeated references to 'worst blackouts in decades' and 'critical' conditions.
Sensationalism: Use of phrases like 'worst rolling blackouts in decades' and 'absolutely no fuel' to amplify the severity of the crisis.
"'absolutely no fuel (oil), and absolutely no diesel'"
Loaded Language: Describes the U.S. action as a 'blockade' rather than 'sanctions' or 'restrictions,' evoking moral condemnation.
"'U.S. blockade that has strangled the island of fuel'"
Appeal to Emotion: Highlights civilian suffering—'20 to 22 hours a day' without light—to elicit empathy.
"'many neighborhoods without light for 20 to 22 hours a day'"
Framing by Emphasis: Focuses on the U.S. role and UN condemnation, downplaying internal mismanagement or structural issues in Cuba’s energy sector.
"'The United Nations last week called Trump's fuel blockade unlawful'"
Vague Attribution: References 'rising global oil and transportation prices amid the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran' without specifying causal links or data.
"'complicating that effort'"
Omission: Does not mention any internal Cuban policy failures, inefficiencies, or political resistance to reform that may contribute to the crisis.
Proper Attribution: Quotes Energy Minister Vicente de la O directly, lending credibility to claims about fuel levels.
"'We have absolutely no fuel (oil), and absolutely no diesel'"
CNN
Framing: CNN frames the crisis as a worsening energy emergency directly tied to the exhaustion of a temporary Russian oil donation and sustained U.S. pressure. It emphasizes the geopolitical context—U.S. military threats and sanctions aimed at regime change—while also incorporating domestic unrest (protests) and technical limitations (solar power unreliability). The framing includes more explicit political confrontation language, including U.S. intentions to 'outrun' or 'take' the island.
Tone: More confrontational and politically charged. The tone blends crisis reporting with geopolitical escalation, highlighting U.S. military threats and Cuban resistance. It presents a more dynamic narrative of struggle and resistance.
Narrative Framing: Presents the crisis as a sequence: Russian aid ends → blackouts worsen → protests grow → U.S. threatens invasion → Cuba resists.
"'donated Russian oil runs out, minister warns'"
Loaded Language: Uses terms like 'beleaguered electrical grid' and 'communist-run island'—the latter possibly editorializing depending on context.
"'beleaguered electrical grid'"
Cherry-Picking: Highlights only U.S. aggression (attack on Venezuela, military threats) while omitting broader context of Iran war’s global impact on fuel markets.
"'Following the US attack on Cuba’s oil-rich ally Venezuela'"
Appeal to Emotion: Describes Cubans waking at night to cook or charge devices, humanizing the crisis.
"'wake in the middle of the night – during the brief moments there is electricity – to do basic tasks'"
Misleading Context: Implies U.S. attacked Venezuela in January 2026; actual events were sanctions and diplomatic pressure, not military attack. This misrepresents the nature of U.S. actions.
"'US attack on Cuba’s oil-rich ally Venezuela'"
Editorializing: Includes speculative or interpretive statements like 'Trump administration is attempting to force the Cuban government to open the island politically' without citing evidence.
"'Trump administration is attempting to force the Cuban government'"
Balanced Reporting: Notes Cuban protests (pot-banging), showing internal dissent, which Reuters omits.
"'small groups of Cubans have taken to the streets, often at night, banging pots and pans'"
CNN
Includes more dimensions: public reaction (protests), technical limitations of renewables, geopolitical threats, and domestic coping mechanisms. However, includes potentially false claims (e.g., 'attack on Venezuela').
Reuters
Provides clear sourcing, UN position, and systemic context (blockade, Iran war), but omits internal dissent and over-relies on structural blame without acknowledging domestic factors.
Cuba’s energy crisis to worsen as donated Russian oil runs out, minister warns
Cuba has run out of diesel and fuel oil amid US oil blockade