Ukraine – The Kyiv Independent newspaper, citing the Ukrainian Military Intelligence Service (GUR), revealed that more than 1,000 Cuban fighters are serving with the Russian armed forces inside Ukraine. This comes amid reports of recruitment through deception and poor conditions on the battlefield.
The newspaper reported that 1,076 Cubans were registered as fighting alongside the Russian army. According to Ukrainian estimates, 96 of them were killed or missing.
These figures are close to previous US estimates. A declassified intelligence cable released in October estimated that between 1,000 and 5,000 Cubans had fought or were still fighting in Ukraine.
Limited training and simple equipment
According to the same source, Cuban fighters are being assembled at a training center near Moscow. The training program lasts only two weeks before they are sent to the front lines. They are often assigned to assault infantry units with high casualty rates.
Electronic fraud and tourist visas
Information indicates that recruitment sometimes takes place via social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube, offering attractive offers for well-paid construction jobs in Russia.
After traveling, often through “private intermediaries” who sometimes pay for the tickets, Cuban recruits are offered employment contracts in Russian. However, they are later surprised to find themselves transferred to military service without translation or adequate legal explanation.
Cubans are the fifth most common foreign nationality involved in combat.
Ukrainian intelligence reported that Cubans constitute the fifth largest foreign nationality participating in the war alongside Russia, followed by citizens of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Belarus.
Broader context
This information comes amid growing international controversy over Moscow’s use of foreign mercenaries and volunteers. This comes amid reports of the recruitment of economists and migrants from countries in the Global South into the war, which has been ongoing since February 2022.
