Hurricane Melissa slammed into eastern Cuba on Wednesday, leaving behind widespread flooding, power outages and heavy damage — and sparking concern among Cuban Americans in South Florida.

The move comes weeks after Russia and Cuba signed a military cooperation agreement and the U.S. said as many as 5,000 Cubans may be on the frontlines.

The White House is ready to send humanitarian aid to Cuba as it recovers from Hurricane Melissa, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on social media Thursday, a commitment that comes despite the administration’s hardened stance against Havana and its wholesale cuts to foreign aid.

The storm weakened to a Category 3 hurricane as it reached the southeast coast of the island. Havana has placed six provinces on alert and evacuated 735,000 people

People across the northern Caribbean are digging out from the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa as deaths from the storm climbed.

Ukraine is "downgrading" diplomatic ties with Havana due to "the inaction of Cuba's authorities in response to massive recruitment of Cuban citizens to the Russian occupation army," Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.

Cuba said it has contacted the US to coordinate how they could deliver humanitarian assistance offered to affected by Hurricane Melissa.

Hundreds of people in Cuba have attended a Mass to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Celia Cruz’s birth just days after authorities canceled a theater performance in honor of the revered singer without explanation,

Beijing has built more than bases and businesses in Cuba — it has drafted a new manual for influence within sight of US shores.