Russian Oil Tanker Docks in Cuba, Bringing Relief

0:00It's March 30th. Welcome to Toronto News Today, powered by AI, I'm Corey with the story. A Russian oil tanker named Anatoly Kalatkin, hit with US sanctions, is set to dock in Cuba by Tuesday, hauling 730,000 barrels of crude. Shipping data shows it off Cuba's eastern tips on day, cruising at 12 knots toward the port of Matanzas. This marks the islands' first oil delivery since January, after losing Venezuela as a key supplier when US forces grabbed leader, Nicolas Maduro. The tanker sailed from Russia's Primorsk port on March 8th, even dodging potential US interference with a Navy escort through the English Channel. Cuba's 9.6 million folks are reeling from blackouts, fuel rationing, and a battered economy. Power plants are failing, sparking seven nationwide outages this year alone, plus protest, while buses and flights grind to a halt amid soaring prices. Just like Jorge Pinone from the University of Texas, are shocked the US Coast Guard is

1:02letting it through without a fight. Once in Cuban waters, stopping it gets nearly impossible, and this crude could turn into diesel for about 12.5 days of urgent needs like generators or transport. For now, this shipment offers Cuba a brief breather, but leaders face tough calls on rationing that fuel between lights and wheels as the energy. Crunch drags on.