Timeline
March 22, 2026 — March 30, 2026
World
Timeline: Cuba's Energy Crisis and the US Oil Blockade in March 2026
In March 2026, Cuba faced a severe humanitarian crisis as a US-imposed oil blockade led to repeated nationwide blackouts affecting over 10 million people. The crisis intensified when Cuba's aging power grid collapsed multiple times, prompting international aid efforts and eventually a shift in US policy regarding a Russian oil tanker. This timeline tracks the eight-day period from the grid failures through the diplomatic resolution.
6 events · 8 days · 14 source articles
Sun, Mar 22, 2026
Major
Cuba's power grid collapses for third time in March
Cuba experienced a nationwide blackout on Saturday, March 21-22, marking the second total blackout in less than a week and the third grid failure of the month. The Cuban Electric Union reported the blackout was caused by an unexpected failure at the Nuevitas thermoelectric plant in Camagüey province, triggering a cascading effect across the system. More than 10 million people were left without electricity as the country struggled with aging infrastructure and a US-imposed oil blockade.
Sun, Mar 22, 2026
Moderate
Partial power restoration begins in Havana
Cuban authorities scrambled to restore power on Sunday, with some parts of Havana beginning to receive electricity again while other areas remained dark. The blackout highlighted Cuba's vulnerability to fuel shortages resulting from the US blockade that cut off foreign oil imports needed to keep power stations running.
Tue, Mar 24, 2026
Moderate
International aid flotilla arrives in Cuba
The first boat of a humanitarian aid flotilla reached Havana on Tuesday, carrying approximately 30 people along with food, medicine, solar panels, and bicycles. The Maguro shrimp fishing boat, symbolically renamed 'Granma 2.0' after Fidel Castro's revolutionary yacht, arrived three days later than planned after battling strong winds and currents from Mexico. Activists described the delivery as a 'gesture of solidarity' meant to draw international attention to the US energy blockade.
Tue, Mar 24, 2026
Major
Reports confirm dire humanitarian situation in Cuba
International media outlets reported that Cuba's humanitarian crisis had become dire, with the government's oil supply potentially lasting only days or weeks. The crisis stemmed from the Trump administration's January 2026 decision to end Venezuela's subsidized oil shipments to Cuba, which had sustained the island since the early 2000s. The situation was characterized by widespread blackouts, food shortages, and water scarcity.
Sun, Mar 29, 2026
Major
US plans to allow Russian oil tanker to reach Cuba
The Trump administration signaled it would permit a Russian oil tanker, the Anatoly Kolodkin, to dock in Cuba, potentially alleviating the energy crisis. Ship tracking data showed the Russian-flagged tanker carrying 730,000 barrels of crude oil was off the eastern tip of Cuba on Sunday. The New York Times reported that a US official said it was unclear why the Coast Guard was allowing the shipment, though blocking it by force could have raised tensions with Russia at sea.
Mon, Mar 30, 2026
Major
Trump reverses course, says 'no problem' with oil deliveries to Cuba
President Donald Trump publicly stated he had 'no problem' with Russia or another country delivering oil to Cuba, marking a significant softening of the de facto oil blockade. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said, 'We have a tanker out there. We don't mind having somebody get a boatload because they need… they have to survive.' The Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin was scheduled to arrive at the port of Matanzas on Tuesday.
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