This week, the Cuban Youth Union (UJC) released a video on Facebook, asserting with utmost seriousness that the ongoing power crisis in Cuba is not due to a "failed government," but rather the result of the U.S. embargo. This statement comes at a time when the Russian crude oil that temporarily alleviated blackouts has already been depleted.
Released around May 1st, the video counters remarks made by former President Donald Trump, who attributed Cuba's electricity issues to "incompetence." The UJC retorts with what it considers its strongest argument: "It only took receiving a single Russian oil tanker for the national power system to meet its demand, an achievement not seen since February."
The Omitted Reality of Russian Oil Supplies
Conspicuously absent from the video is the fact that this lone tanker—the Anatoly Kolodkin, carrying 730,000 barrels of Russian-donated crude—docked in Matanzas on March 31st, began distribution on April 17th, and ran dry by the end of that month. By April 30th, the electricity shortfall had once again surpassed 1,500 MW.
The UJC briefly acknowledges the existence of "technological problems and management issues," but maintains that highlighting these issues is merely an attempt to "cover or justify the inhumanity of the blockade." The rhetorical question posed by the video—"Is it a failed government or an energy blockade?"—received immediate feedback in the comments, though not the kind the UJC hoped for.
Public Reaction: A Mix of Skepticism and Humor
"Hahaha, this account posts some great memes," quipped young influencer Anna Sofía Benítez Silvente (Anna Bensi). Another user questioned, "And how do you explain the blackouts, which have been unbearable for two years before the oil blockade?" The mockery continued with comments like "Great joke, the video."
One comment pointed directly at the geographic inequality of the "improvement": "I think Santiago didn't get that oil because the blackouts continue there." While Havana enjoyed nearly five days without blackouts between April 20th and 25th thanks to the Russian fuel, other provinces like Holguín, Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Moa experienced outages lasting up to 24 hours a day.
Structural Problems Ignored by UJC
The comments were blunt. "Haha, that's called the May Day effect to get people out to march," one person joked. "Guess what, the last blackout was 28 hours, some improvement," added another. "We're better off without the blockade and communism too," another pointedly remarked.
The systemic reality that the UJC video avoids is that Cuban thermoelectric plants operate with equipment over 50 years old, far exceeding their intended lifespan of 25 to 30 years. By 2024, 366 distributed generation groups—equivalent to 680 MW—were offline due to lack of spare parts, and nine out of 16 thermoelectric units remained paralyzed in 2026. Even Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz admitted in October 2024 that "fuel scarcity is the major factor" in the collapse, preceding any executive orders signed by Trump.
Cuba requires eight fuel tankers monthly to meet its energy demand. Between January and April 2026, it received just one. Miguel Díaz-Canel himself acknowledged that the country "went four months without receiving a drop of fuel, operating on reserves." The second announced Russian oil tanker, the Sea Horse Universal, unpredictably changed course in the North Atlantic, with its arrival possibly delayed until the end of May. Meanwhile, the projected shortfall for this Saturday was 1,415 MW, with an estimated impact of 1,445 MW.
The UJC hails what it perceives as a historic victory, one that lasted less than the enthusiasm of a May Day parade. As the video accumulates comments disproving its claims line by line, the Communist Party's youth organization still fails to address the most straightforward question posed by its own followers: "Can anyone name a minister in this country who has the blockade at home?"
The answer, like electricity in Cuba, remains conspicuously absent.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What is the Cuban Youth Union's stance on the energy crisis?
The Cuban Youth Union blames the U.S. embargo for the energy crisis, dismissing allegations of government failure.
How did the Russian oil tanker impact Cuba's power supply?
A Russian oil tanker temporarily alleviated power shortages, but its supply was quickly depleted, leading to renewed blackouts.
What are the structural issues affecting Cuba's energy infrastructure?
Cuba's energy infrastructure suffers from outdated equipment, lack of spare parts, and insufficient fuel supply, leading to frequent power outages.