The Kremlin on Thursday defended Cuba’s actions in a deadly confrontation involving a U.S.-registered speedboat off Cuba’s northern coast. Russian officials said Cuban border guards acted appropriately after Havana claimed the vessel’s occupants opened fire first. The incident has added another flashpoint to already strained relations between the United States, Cuba, and Russia.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Cuban authorities “did what they had to do” under the circumstances. He emphasized what he described as the humanitarian dimension, while criticizing what Moscow characterizes as economic pressure placed on Cuba by the United States.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the episode an “aggressive U.S. provocation,” alleging it was intended to escalate tensions and trigger conflict.
According to Cuba’s Interior Ministry, the shooting occurred Wednesday near Cayo Falcones. Cuban officials said a coast guard vessel approached the Florida-registered boat to request identification when passengers allegedly opened fire, injuring the commander of the Cuban patrol craft. Border guards returned fire, reportedly killing four passengers and wounding six others.
Later statements from Cuban authorities claimed all ten passengers were Cuban nationals with prior criminal histories and were attempting an armed infiltration for “terrorist purposes.” Officials said the boat contained rifles, handguns, bulletproof vests, camouflage uniforms, and Molotov cocktails. They also announced the arrest of an additional suspect allegedly tasked with assisting the group upon arrival.
However, at least one individual named by Cuban authorities reportedly surfaced later in the United States, stating he was not involved in the incident and was not in Cuban custody.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that the U.S. government had no connection to the vessel or its passengers. Rubio stated that the U.S. Embassy in Havana is working to gather more information and determine the facts surrounding the confrontation.
The clash comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with Russia and Cuba maintaining close diplomatic ties while the Trump administration increases pressure on Havana’s communist government. Investigations remain ongoing as conflicting claims and unanswered questions continue to surround the deadly encounter.
