Russia flag. Photo by Plato Terentev on Pexels.com
The Russia said Cuba’s response to a Wednesday confrontation with a US-registered speedboat was justified.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Cuban border guards acted appropriately in defending their waters.
He added that individuals on the boat, reportedly Cuban nationals living in the US, admitted they intended to carry out armed actions on the island.
Russia urged all sides to remain restrained and avoid provocations that could escalate tensions.
Separately, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described the incident as an aggressive US provocation aimed at sparking conflict.
Cuban authorities reported that a Florida-registered boat entered their waters and that occupants opened fire on border guards, wounding a commander. Four attackers were killed and six others injured.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said officials are investigating the incident and promised a measured response once the facts are clear.
The confrontation comes amid heightened tensions in the Caribbean, with increased US maritime activity and longstanding political opposition from the Cuban expatriate community in Florida.