A Russian navy frigate and a nuclear-powered submarine churned into Havana harbour, a stopover the US and Cuba said posed no threat, but which was widely seen as a Russian show of force as tensions rise over the Ukraine war.
Curious onlookers, fishermen and police lined the Malecon seafront boulevard under grey skies to welcome the ships as they passed the 400-year-old Morro castle at the harbour’s entrance. Cuba a long-time ally of Russia saluted the ships’ arrival with cannon fire from the harbour, while Russian diplomats waved small Russian flags and took selfies as the vessels passed the harbour’s historic fortresses.—INP
