On Monday, the Russian Embassy in Cuba issued a statement on their official Facebook page, denying the authenticity of images circulating on social media that allegedly show the arrival of a Russian nuclear submarine in Havana Bay. They clarified that these images "do not reflect reality."
The misinformation was spread by the verified X account @DD_Geopoliti (DD Geopolitics), which posted: "BREAKING: A Russian nuclear submarine arrived in Havana, Cuba, today, just 90 miles from the United States. The submarine entered Havana's port in front of the historic monument... with Russian sailors visible on deck."
In a statement that could not mask the awkwardness of the situation, the Russian embassy explained that the images actually depict a visit by a Russian naval flotilla to Havana back in June 2024, rather than a recent event.
"Although we wish it were true, we regret to inform our followers that the social media posts about the supposed arrival of a Russian nuclear submarine in Havana Bay do not correspond to reality," the embassy wrote, a message that also hinted at a menacing undertone.
Images from a Previous Visit
The phrase "although we wish it were true" was particularly telling, as it suggested the embassy might have celebrated the news if it had been accurate. The reused images were actually from the arrival of the K-561 Kazan nuclear submarine in Havana Bay on June 12, 2024. This visit, which included four Northern Fleet vessels—the frigate Admiral Gorshkov, the tanker Pashin, and the tugboat Nikolai Chiker—marked the first presence of a Russian nuclear-capable submarine in the Caribbean in over 30 years.
The images depicted the submarine passing in front of the iconic Morro Castle, the lighthouse at the entrance to Havana Bay, a scene that indeed took place in 2024 and at the time generated significant geopolitical tension.
The Kazan submarine departed Havana on June 17, 2024, after a five-day visit during which Miguel Díaz-Canel boarded both the frigate and the submarine in a display of political showmanship.
Another Russian flotilla, featuring the training ship Smolny, the patrol ship Neustrashimy, and the tanker Yelnya, visited Havana between July 26 and 30, 2024, which might have contributed to some of the recycled footage.
Clarifications on the Russian Submarine Incident
What did the Russian Embassy in Cuba say about the submarine images?
The Russian Embassy clarified that the images were not current and were from a 2024 naval visit, not a recent event.
What caused the spread of the misinformation about the Russian submarine?
The misinformation was disseminated by the verified X account @DD_Geopoliti, which falsely claimed a Russian nuclear submarine had arrived in Havana.
When did the actual visit of the Russian nuclear submarine to Havana occur?
The actual visit of the K-561 Kazan nuclear submarine took place in June 2024, during a Russian naval flotilla's official visit to Cuba.