Residents of San Miguel del Padrón in Havana have raised concerns about a Friday incident where an Electric Company truck, on its way to the Calzada de San Miguel del Padrón near the La Balear Hospital, was accompanied by police vehicles and armed members of the so-called "black berets," reportedly there to intimidate locals who opposed electricity service disruptions.
The eyewitness accounts were shared with journalist Mario J. Pentón and later circulated on his social media platforms. Pentón noted that Martí Noticias, his employer, could not independently verify all aspects of the report and has called on Cuban authorities to clarify "why it was necessary to deploy police forces and special troops during an Electric Company operation in a residential area."
The individuals providing these accounts requested anonymity due to fears of being identified and facing retaliation, which is why the video lacks ambient sound.
The Role of Special Forces
The "black berets," known officially as the National Special Brigade (BEN) of the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), are tasked with responding to "serious public order disturbances, invasions, and enemy aggressions," according to MININT. This recent deployment is notable because it was not a reaction to an ongoing protest but rather a preventive measure accompanying an electricity cut, which residents interpret as a preemptive intimidation tactic.
Protests Escalate in San Miguel del Padrón
San Miguel del Padrón has become a focal point for protests linked to the ongoing electricity crisis. On May 13, locals gathered at the municipal government headquarters demanding "electricity and food" amid growing desperation. Another protest involved banging pots and burning tires on June 19 in the Afán area. On July 26, a video captured a pot-banging protest in La Cumbre, where cries for "freedom" were heard, followed by the arrival of MININT trucks, patrols, and motorcycles.
Just a week before the current complaint, on July 24, numerous police officers and MININT forces were deployed in El Diezmero during protests against power outages. The municipality has reported numerous electrical issues on the blackout map.
Nationwide Pattern of Militarization
The deployment of the "black berets" in situations related to blackouts is not an isolated occurrence. On June 29, armed troops were sent to the Chicharrones neighborhood in Santiago de Cuba following pot-banging protests over outages lasting up to 22 hours. According to the Cuban Conflict Observatory, there were 107 protests across Cuba in June, with Havana seeing the most street unrest, totaling 82 incidents.
The ongoing electricity crisis is one of the most severe in recent Cuban history. In July alone, the National Electric System experienced three major collapses on the 6th, 10th, and 14th, leaving millions without power. Some Havana neighborhoods endured up to 35 consecutive hours without electricity.
A report from Cubalex analyzing data from March 2026 warned of "social militarization" through patrols and repressive force deployments amid blackouts. The latest reports from San Miguel del Padrón suggest that this trend is not only continuing but intensifying, as the regime's special forces now appear on the streets even before protests erupt.
Understanding the Military Presence in San Miguel del Padrón
Why were military forces deployed during an Electric Company operation in San Miguel del Padrón?
The military presence was reportedly a preemptive measure to intimidate residents who opposed electricity service disruptions, rather than a response to an ongoing protest.
What are the "black berets" in Cuba?
The "black berets" are the National Special Brigade (BEN) under the Ministry of the Interior, tasked with handling serious public disturbances and other threats to national security.
How has the electricity crisis affected protests in Cuba?
The severe electricity crisis has sparked numerous protests, especially in Havana, with residents demanding basic necessities and expressing their frustration over prolonged blackouts.