Boat Flying American Flag Attacks Cuban Border Guards – Dead and Wounded Reported

A high-speed boat flying the United States flag attacked Cuban border guards, and some members of its crew were killed during the exchange of fire.

This was stated in an official announcement by the Cuban Embassy in the United States.

According to the statement, on the morning of February 25, Cuban authorities detected a high-speed boat violating the country’s territorial waters.

The vessel, registered in Florida under number FL7726SH, approached to within one nautical mile northeast of the El Pino Channel, in the area of Cayo Falcones, Corralillo municipality, Villa Clara province.

When a surface unit of the Border Troops of the Ministry of the Interior, carrying five service members on board, approached the vessel for identification, the crew of the violating boat opened fire on the Cuban personnel, wounding the commander of the Cuban vessel.

As a result of the shootout, four members of the American boat’s crew were killed, and six others were injured. The wounded were evacuated and provided with medical assistance.

“Cuba reaffirms its determination to defend its territorial waters, based on the principle that national defense is a fundamental pillar of the Cuban state in protecting its sovereignty and ensuring stability in the region,” the statement reads.

A new Cuban crisis

The economic crisis in Cuba has worsened after the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump declared the island a national security threat.

Washington blocked oil supplies from Venezuela and threatened tariffs on other suppliers, including Mexico.

It was also reported that a Russian Il-76 transport aircraft, which is under U.S. sanctions, landed at the San Antonio de los Baños military airfield near Cuba’s capital, Havana.

The operating company, Aviacon Zitotrans, has long been included on the sanctions lists of the United States, Canada, and Ukraine for directly supporting Russia’s defense sector.

The United States Department of the Treasury previously reported that this carrier had transported missiles, warheads, and helicopter spare parts worldwide.

This same aircraft conducted flights to Venezuela in October 2025, immediately before the start of U.S. military operations that led to a change of власти in Caracas.

During the operations in Venezuela, Russian state media confirmed that this Il-76 delivered the short- and medium-range surface-to-air missile systems Pantsir-S1 and Buk-M2E.

Amid these developments, Russia is evacuating its citizens from the island and suspending air travel.