Russians allegedly deceived Cubans and Sri Lankans into fighting on the front lines against Ukraine, according to Havana. Cuban citizens reportedly traveled to Russia seeking construction jobs but were instead made to sign contracts written in Russian and sent to training grounds and trenches. The Cuban government claims they are victims of human trafficking. But are they really?
Cuba Denies Involvement
Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement condemning the participation of its citizens in the war, on any side. Havana insists that no Cuban acts with the initiative, approval, or consent of the state and that its citizens have fallen victim to human trafficking. However, not everyone seems to fit that description.
According to several journalistic investigations, many Cubans voluntarily joined Putin’s army, lured by a promised salary of $2,000. Radio Svoboda analyzed the case in detail, contacting families of Cubans fighting for Moscow as well as people involved in the recruitment network in South America. Testimonies indicate that most recruits were fully aware of where they were going and why. Some even chose to return to the front after coming home.
Up to 40 Cubans a Day
Two Russian women and one Cuban woman from Ryazan were allegedly responsible for recruiting citizens of Cuba and Sri Lanka into the Russian army. They searched for potential mercenaries through social media. There was no shortage of volunteers, according to an investigative report by Ukrainian journalists. The women even opened their own office near military enlistment centers, sending between 30 and 40 people to the front daily. The operation collapsed when the recruiters began withdrawing too much money from the Cubans’ accounts—prompting the recruits themselves to file lawsuits.
It remains unclear whether the illegal recruiters acted independently or under orders from Russian intelligence. Nor can it be determined whether the governments of Cuba and Sri Lanka were aware of the scheme or tacitly supported it as a cover for cooperation with the Kremlin. Both governments deny any involvement.
See also: From Nairobi to the Battlefield: How Kenyan Job Seekers Were Tricked Into Russia’s War
Cuba on Both Sides of the Front
According to the U.S. State Department, Cuba has become Russia’s largest source of manpower after North Korea, with as many as 5,000 Cubans estimated to be fighting. Ukrainian intelligence representative Andriy Yusov recently told the U.S. Congress that the number could soon reach 25,000.
Meanwhile, soldiers from South American countries such as Colombia are fighting on Ukraine’s side—their national flags and portraits of the fallen can be seen among the thousands displayed on Kyiv’s Maidan.
Moscow continues its aggressive recruitment of foreign fighters. Recently we reported on Kenyans deceived into joining the Russian front. Occasionally, reports surface of Poles fighting for Russia—but those cases remain isolated.
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PostPravda.Info is a project launched in February 2024 to counter Russian propaganda and disinformation. It was created by experts from several countries—Poland, Ukraine, the USA, the United Kingdom, and Lithuania—and is funded by the international UA Future Foundation.
