The Cuban Ministry of Defense announced that three Russian naval vessels, including the Yasen-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine Kazan (K-561), will arrive at the Port of Havana next week for an official visit and to commence exercises in the Caribbean. The visiting fleet will also include the Admiral Gorshkov, a Project 22350 frigate, the replenishment oiler Academic Pashin, and the deep-sea tugboat Nikolay Chiker. The Cuban MoD emphasized that none of the Russian vessels will be carrying nuclear weapons during their stay or the ensuing exercises.
The announcement follows reports from U.S. officials, who disclosed heightened naval and air activity near the United States, marking the first coordinated air and sea exercise by Russia in the Western Hemisphere in five years. The Cuban military described the visit as part of friendly relations between Cuba and Russia, stressing that the presence of the Russian vessels complies with international law and poses no security threat to the region.
A U.S. official indicated that Washington has been tracking the movements of the Russian warships and aircraft expected to participate in these exercises, interpreting the deployment as a broader Russian response to U.S. support for Ukraine. Despite the proximity of the Russian military presence, U.S. intelligence assesses that the Kazan is not carrying nuclear weapons and poses no direct threat to U.S. national security.
The visit coincides with escalating tensions over the war in Ukraine and will overlap with President Biden’s attendance at the G7 leaders summit in Italy. The Cuban MoD assured that the visit, including a planned 21-gun salute by one of the Russian ships, reflects long-standing naval relations between the two countries and does not represent a departure from routine military exchanges.
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