STORY: Russia plans to fly its tourists out of Cuba in the coming days and then suspend all flights until a jet fuel shortage eases, aviation regulator Rosaviatsia said on Wednesday (February 11).

It said Rossiya, part of the Aeroflot group, and Severny Veter (Nordwind) would only be operating passenger flights to get tourists back from Cuba, a move both airlines said in separate statements would take effect on Thursday (February 12).

At Juan Gualberto Gómez International Airport in Varadero, on Thursday (February 12), Russians interviewed by Reuters expressed some surprise at having to return to Russia.

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has declared Cuba "an unusual and extraordinary threat" to U.S. national security and said the communist-run island will no longer receive oil from Venezuela. Washington has threatened to impose tariffs on other suppliers, like Mexico, if they continue to ship fuel to the island.

Cuba itself warned international airlines that jet fuel would no longer be available on the island from Tuesday.

Russia's economy ministry on Wednesday advised tourists to cease all tourist travel to Cuba until the situation normalized and told Russian tour operators to suspend sales.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: RUSSIAN TOURISTS GETTING OFF BUS / DEPARTURE BOARDS SHOWING FLIGHTS TO RUSSIA / SOUNDBITES FROM RUSSIAN TOURISTS

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: VIDEO PART QUALITY AS INCOMING.

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: VARADERO, MATANZAS, CUBA (FEBRUARY 12, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. RUSSIAN TOURISTS UNLOADING LUGGAGE FROM BUS AT VARADERO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT OF VARADERO

2. RUSSIAN TOURIST

3. RUSSIAN TOURISTS GETTING OFF BUS

4. TOURISTS WALKING INSIDE AIRPORT

5. VARIOUS OF TOURISTS BY BUS

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) RUSSIAN TOURIST, BORIS (LAST NAME NOT GIVEN), SAYING:

"Nine days. I don't see problem to transfer to Russia. A lot of news, talks about (there being) no gas (in the island), there's a problem (and we must) transfer to home."

7. VARIOUS OF DEPARTURE BOARDS SHOWING FLIGHTS TO RUSSIA

8. TOURISTS INSIDE AIRPORT

9. TOURISTS WITH LUGGAGE WALKING TO AIRPORT

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) RUSSIAN TOURIST, ALEXANDER PROVIRIN, SAYING:

"I don't know really. It's not the last flight because we have a lot of people here (from) Russia and I suppose company Rossiya will take them, by definition. I would like to thank the Cuban people. They're real people, they're strong and with a good relationship with Russia."

11. BUS ARRIVING AT AIRPORT

12. AIRPORT SIGN

13. AIRPORT CONTROL TOWER