Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba: Russia recruits Cuban citizens to participate in the war against Ukraine

The Cuban Ministry of Internal Affairs exposed a Russian network that has been recruiting Cuban citizens to participate in the war against Ukraine. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba reported this on September 4. This regards Cuban citizens both living in the Russian Federation and in Cuba.

The country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs assured that the Cuban authorities are working to neutralize and eliminate this network. Criminal proceedings have been initiated against those involved in these activities. The Ministry added that Cuba's enemies are promoting distorted information that seeks to tarnish the country's image and present it as an accomplice to these actions that they firmly reject.

It is emphasized that Cuba is not involved in the Russian-Ukrainian war. "The country is acting, and it will firmly act against those who within the national territory participate in any form of human trafficking for mercenarism or recruitment purposes so that Cuban citizens may raise weapons against any country," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba stated. It is worth noting that in June, Infobae published an article by columnist Lucas Martin Goyret titled "With his troops depleted, Putin is looking for the Cuban military to fight in Ukraine."

Citing reports in Russian regional media, the Argentinian observer claims that Cuban emigrants have likely started to join the ranks of the Russian Armed Forces.

Cuban citizens allegedly signing contracts to serve in the Russian Armed Forces. May 2023. Photo credits: Ryazanskie vedomosti

According to him, this is due to the high salary, which cannot be compared to the income in Cuba, and the opportunity to acquire Russian citizenship through a simplified procedure.

According to Lucas Martin Goyret, Cuban citizens who agreed to participate in hostilities against Ukraine were promised RUB 204,000 (over £2000) per month, an amount that is impossible to earn in Cuba.