Moscow’s civil aviation authority said on Wednesday that two major Russian airlines are helping to repatriate its citizens from Cuba amid a jet fuel shortage on the island.
The agency, Rosaviatsia, said that Rossiya Airlines had changed its flight schedule “to ensure the evacuation of Russian tourists currently in Cuba.”
Rossiya, which is owned by Russian aviation giant Aeroflot, and Nordwind Airlines, a Russian luxury airline, announced on the same day that they would suspend flights to Cuba and offer only one-way tickets out of the island.
All parties cited “difficulties with refueling aircraft in Cuba.”
“Starting February 12, a number of one-way return flights will be operated from Havana and Varadero to Moscow to accommodate Russian tourists currently in Cuba,” wrote Rossiya Airlines.
Nordwind Airlines, a Russian leisure airline, said it would fly only repatriation flights from the resort locations of Varadero, Holguin, and Cayo Coco.
The Russian Union of Travel Industry estimated last week that at least 4,000 Russian tourists are in Cuba.
The announcements came after Cuban aviation authorities warned on Monday that the island would not have jet fuel available at international airports for a month.
Cuba heavily depends on Venezuela for oil, but has stopped receiving imports since January 3, when Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was captured by US forces.
Mexico ranks in distant second place as an oil supplier to Cuba, but it also halted exports to the island after President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on countries that send oil to Havana.
Canadian airlines, which run some of the highest-traffic routes to Cuba, said they were canceling flights to the island from Monday onward. Air Canada, WestJet, and Air Transat said they would fly empty planes to Cuba to pick up passengers.
The Russian airlines are following suit.
Rossiya said in a follow-up statement that it was organizing at least six one-way flights from Cuban airports to Moscow, and that it would suspend all operations to the island nation by February 24.
Both Rossiya and Nordwind said they were offering refunds to affected passengers.
“Both parties are exploring alternative options to resume flights in both directions in the interests of citizens of both countries,” Rosaviatsia wrote.
A Russian ally under strain
Cuba has long been considered a close ally of Moscow and a stronghold of Soviet and Russian influence in Latin America.
Russia, isolated by international sanctions for its war against Ukraine, has recently sought to expand economic and trade ties with Cuba, encouraging Russian companies in banking, agriculture, IT, and other industries to begin operations on the island.
In September, Ukrainian intelligence officials said that the Kremlin recruited over 20,000 Cuban citizens as mercenaries to fight Kyiv’s forces, with the island ranking among the top suppliers of foreign fighters.
Trump said earlier this month that his administration was in discussions with Cuba as he ramps up pressure on the island.
“I think we’re going to make a deal with Cuba,” he told reporters.
Russia is not the only one to chafe at Cuba’s situation. On Tuesday, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said at a press briefing that Beijing “stands firmly against the inhumane actions that deprive the Cuban people of their right to subsistence and development.”
“China will, as always, do our best to provide support and assistance to Cuba,” said spokesperson Lin Jian.
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