HAVANA, Cuba — The United States has announced a new round of Cuba-related sanctions, adding fresh pressure on the Cuban government and entities operating on the island.

The measures were announced on August 6, 2026, with the US Treasury Department targeting six Cuban individuals, including people based in China and Russia, as well as five entities located in Cuba. Two previously sanctioned Cuban individuals were also subject to additional designations.

The latest action comes as Cuba faces serious economic and energy challenges, including repeated nationwide electricity-grid failures that have disrupted daily life and essential services across the island.

The sanctions add another layer to an already tense relationship between Washington and Havana, with the two governments continuing to disagree sharply over economic policy, energy supplies and the wider direction of US-Cuba relations.

Cuba's energy crisis has become increasingly visible in recent weeks, with the national electricity system experiencing multiple major collapses. Reuters reported another nationwide blackout in early August, followed by a further grid collapse during restoration efforts.

The new sanctions are also being announced amid growing international concern about conditions on the island. UN human rights experts called on August 6 for urgent action to prevent further humanitarian deterioration in Cuba.

For Cuban businesses and households, the latest US measures add to uncertainty surrounding trade, finance, fuel supplies and international economic activity.

The developments are being closely watched across the Caribbean as Cuba navigates a combination of economic pressure, energy shortages and increasingly complex international relations.