Cuba has uncovered a human trafficking ring that coerced Cuban citizens to fight for Russia in the war in Ukraine, according to its foreign ministry. Authorities are reportedly working to “neutralize and dismantle” this network.
The ministry’s statement, issued on Monday, provided few details but indicated that the trafficking ring was operating both in Cuba and within Russia. It mentioned that the Cuban government has a firm stance against mercenarism and actively repudiates this practice in the United Nations.
Cuba emphasized that it is not part of the war in Ukraine and will strongly oppose any Cuban citizens using weapons against any country. As of now, the Russian government has not commented on these allegations.
In late May, a Russian newspaper in Ryazan city reported that several Cuban citizens had signed contracts with Russia’s armed forces and had been sent to Ukraine in exchange for Russian citizenship. It is not immediately clear if the Cuban foreign ministry statement is related to this report.
Last year, Russia announced plans to increase the size of its armed forces by over 30% to 1.5 million combat personnel, a goal complicated by Russia’s undisclosed casualties in the 18-month war in Ukraine.
Cuba also noted in its statement that it has initiated criminal proceedings against individuals involved in coercing Cuban citizens into fighting in Ukraine, and attempts of this nature have been neutralized.
Last year, it was reported that the Russian government, through the Wagner mercenary force, recruited Syrians to fight alongside Russian troops in Ukraine. Additionally, an Iraqi citizen was reported to have been killed while fighting with Russia’s Wagner mercenary force in Ukraine. This individual had been recruited from a Russian prison with the promise that his sentence would be commuted following his service in Ukraine.
