A strong ally of Vladimir Putin’s dictatorship in Latin America, the Communist regime of Cuba has already sent thousands of soldiers to act in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to complaints made by exiled and confirmed opponents by Ukrainian parliamentarians, up to 20,000 Cubans were sent by the communist regime of Havana to fight alongside Russian troops since the beginning of the invasion in 2022.
This number was revealed in May, in Miami, United States, during a conference organized by the Cuban Resistance Assembly (ARC), an opposing organization.
The estimate was presented by the Ukrainian parliamentarian Maryan Zablotsky, citing data provided by his country’s intelligence. “This is an impactful number,” emphasized the parliamentarian. Zablotsky attended the event virtually of the event and highlighted the severity of the situation and the direct participation of the Cuban regime in the recruitment of soldiers to strengthen Putin.
According to data from the Ukraine Ministry of Defense General Directorate of Intelligence, released at the press conference between June 2023 and February 2024 at least 1,028 Cuban mercenaries with contracts signed with the Armed Forces of Russia were identified.
Of this total, the Ukrainian authorities estimate that about 40% were sent directly by the Havana regime, including special forces members who have Cuban passport – a document difficult to obtain in the current political context of the island.
The rest of the Cuban combatants arrives in Russia through schemes promoted by the Castrist regime, involving corruption, coercion or deception. According to complaints, many of these Cubans are also attracted by the strong Russian propaganda underway in the country, which promises job openings to act as workers, security guards or construction workers on Russian soil, with salaries between 2,000 and 2,500 dollars. However, when they landed in Putin’s country, they in fact discover that they were deceived and are forced to enlist in the Armed Forces of the Kremlin regime, with no possibility of return to their home country.
Orlando Gutiérrez, coordinator of the Cuban Resistance Assembly, stressed that Havana receives financial benefits with this scheme.
“The Communist regime of Cuba receives a bonus. He receives a bonus (in cash from Russia) from every Cuban who will fight under Russian orders in Ukraine,” said Gutiérrez.
Also according to Gutiérrez, the Cubans sent to the front line of the conflict in Ukraine are between 20 and 60 years old and many die quickly in combat, while others get serious sequelae. He also denounced that there is evidence that Cuban women would be being recruited and sent to fight in the war, “in favor of Russian imperialism.”
First evidence of Cuban involvement emerged in 2023
The first concrete evidence of Cubans’ participation in the Ukraine war emerged in 2023, when the Ukrainian authorities identified 259 Cuban passport combatants fighting the Russian side and captured a prisoner of war originating from the island. Since then, it is estimated that between 200 and 300 Cubans recruited have already died in the conflict.
