Russia Warns Against ‘Provocative Actions’ Near Cuba After Four Die on US-Registered Speedboat

Russia has issued a stern warning against “provocative actions” near Cuba following a deadly confrontation between the Cuban Coast Guard and a U.S.-registered speedboat that left at least four people dead. The incident has heightened tensions in the region and prompted diplomatic exchanges between multiple countries.

The warning from Moscow came after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States would gather its own information about Wednesday’s incident and “respond appropriately” once the facts were established.

“The situation around Cuba, as we can see, is heating up,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Thursday. “The main thing is the humanitarian component. All humanitarian issues concerning Cuban citizens must be resolved, and no one should create obstacles.”

Peskov emphasized the need for restraint in the waters surrounding the island nation. “As for security around the island, it is, of course, very important that everyone remain restrained and refrain from any provocative actions,” he added.

According to Cuban officials, the incident occurred when five Cuban service members approached a Florida-registered 24-foot Pro-Line speedboat that had been detected within Cuban territorial waters. The Cuban foreign ministry claims the boat’s occupants opened fire first, prompting Cuban forces to return fire. The exchange resulted in four deaths and six injuries among those on the boat, while the commander of the Cuban vessel was also injured.

Cuban authorities have characterized the 10 passengers as armed Cubans living in the United States who were attempting to “infiltrate the island and unleash terrorism.” The government further alleged that most individuals aboard the vessel “have a known history of criminal and violent activity,” according to reports from The Associated Press.

The incident represents an unusual escalation in maritime encounters between Cuba and vessels from the United States. “Suffice it to say, it is highly unusual to see shootouts in the open sea like that. It’s not something that happens every day. It’s something, frankly, that hasn’t happened with Cuba in a very long time,” Rubio remarked on Wednesday.

The Secretary of State made it clear that the U.S. would not simply accept Cuba’s version of events. “We’re not going to base our conclusions on what they’ve told us. And I’m very, very confident that we will know the full story of what happened here, and we will know it soon,” he stated.

U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones from the Southern District of Florida also weighed in on the situation, describing it as “tragic and deeply concerning.” He acknowledged the conflicting narratives, noting, “The Cuban regime asserts their forces were fired upon, but the facts remain unclear and conflicting.”

Quiñones assured that federal authorities are actively investigating the incident. “We are using all available federal tools to understand exactly what happened, who was involved, and whether U.S. citizens or lawful residents were among the casualties. We are committed to a thorough, impartial, and fact-based investigation,” he said.

The timing of Russia’s statement is significant, as it comes amid ongoing geopolitical tensions between Moscow and Washington. Russia has maintained close relations with Cuba since the Cold War era, and this intervention suggests Moscow’s continued interest in affairs involving the Caribbean island.

The incident occurs against the backdrop of ongoing migration issues between Cuba and the United States, with many Cubans regularly attempting dangerous sea journeys to reach American shores. The U.S. has maintained economic sanctions against Cuba for decades, which the Cuban government frequently cites as a primary cause of its economic difficulties.

As both countries gather information about the deadly exchange, international observers are watching closely to see how this rare maritime confrontation might affect already complex U.S.-Cuba relations.