On March 13, the U.S. Treasury Department eased sanctions on Russia, allowing the sale of Russian oil but only for shipments loaded before March 12. The move was an attempt by Washington to mitigate a sudden spike in oil prices triggered by the conflict in Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. However, the U.S. subsequently included Cuba in its list of countries prohibited from purchasing Russian oil. This regulation was instituted after the release of the tanker Anatolijus Kolodkinas that departed from Primorsk port in the Baltic Sea carrying approximately 730,000 barrels of oil, which is also subjected to U.S. sanctions. The ship's navigational route indicated it was headed for Cuba.

The transmission of the Anatolijus Kolodkinas occurred as it was escorted by a Russian warship through the English Channel, although the military escort was called off once it entered the Atlantic Ocean. The dispatch of this tanker from Russia to Cuba signals Moscow's persistent efforts to continue its oil trade with the island nation despite the increasing pressure and sanctions imposed by the U.S. Notably, the shipment is likely not an isolated incident, as another tanker, reportedly owned by a Chinese company and named Sea Horse, had already been sent towards Cuba with oil cargo, hinting at broader connections in energy supply to the island amidst geopolitical tensions.