Amid the Cuban government's persistent denials of involvement in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a startling revelation emerges from the Ukrainian project "I Want to Live": at least 118 Cuban individuals over 50 have been recruited by the Russian military to fight in the war. Among them, three were over 60 when they signed their contracts. These are not professional soldiers or ideological volunteers; they are fathers, workers, retirees, and unemployed individuals, born around the time of the so-called Cuban Revolution, carrying its enduring stigma in various aspects of their lives.
These individuals are part of a population deeply affected by totalitarianism, victims of the relentless propaganda and indoctrination machinery constructed by the Castro regime to impose its ideological and socio-economic dictates. They belong to a segment of society that the Cuban government has exploited and left behind.
The Absence of a Future: Forced to Seek Desperate Solutions
In today's Cuba, old age has become a period of extreme survival. Over 39% of retirees live on minimum pensions of 1,528 Cuban pesos a month, equivalent to less than five dollars at the informal exchange rate. This meager amount is insufficient to meet basic needs, forcing many elderly citizens to confront a harsh reality marked by scarcity and neglect. "There is no future in Cuba," stated a Cuban mercenary to France 24 in September 2023.
The economic crisis has led to chronic shortages of food, medicine, and essential services. Prolonged power outages and the lack of basic resources have exacerbated daily hardships. Additionally, the mass emigration of younger generations has left many elderly individuals alone, without the familial support needed to endure these adversities.
Forgotten Faces: An Erased Identity
In the face of this dire situation, some older adults find themselves compelled to seek desperate alternatives for survival. The lack of opportunities and the dire need to survive in a hostile environment push them toward unthinkable options, such as recruitment into foreign conflicts. These individuals, invisible to the Cuban state but useful to external interests, represent a forgotten generation forced to risk their lives in a foreign war, burdened with the moral weight of killing or dying for monetary gain in the pursuit of imperialistic ambitions.
To protect their safety, CiberCuba does not disclose their names. Some cases listed include men aged between 60 and 63 at the time of their recruitment. The "I Want to Live" list documents the presence of 118 Cuban mercenaries recruited by Russia, aged between 50 and 60 when signing their contracts. Among these mercenaries, mostly Cubans without relatives abroad and with limited emigration opportunities due to their age, are cases that illustrate the tragedy's magnitude. For example, Raúl A. M. was recruited in January 2024 at age 53 and was listed as deceased a month later.
Similarly, Reynerio D. V., recruited in September 2023 at age 61, died in May 2024. Iván G. C., who was 58 when he signed with the Russian army in December 2023, was reported dead in January 2024, less than a month after enlisting as a mercenary. Lázaro Aramis P. R. is another Cuban over 50 who lost his life just a month after recruitment, indicating the minimal training provided by Russia. Lázaro Aramis signed his contract in late January 2024 at age 55 and died in mid-February.
Joining him in this tragic list is Luis Ángel R. L., who made his decision to join the invading forces in December 2023 at age 50. Less than a month later, this Cuban added to the list of those who perished in Vladimir Putin's imperialist war, supported from Havana by Miguel Díaz-Canel. Marked by poverty, misinformation, and a lack of opportunities, these Cubans fell victim to mafia schemes that operated in Cuba with the regime's tacit approval. In Cuba, they were no longer useful to the system; in Russia, they became cannon fodder.
Moral Responsibility: Who Is Accountable?
The recruitment of elderly men for armed conflict violates basic principles of humanitarian law. This is especially true if, as evidence suggests, they were deceived or coerced by poverty. Rather than protecting its most vulnerable citizens, the Cuban regime has left them at the mercy of foreign military recruiters. Without repatriation agreements, diplomatic defense, or even acknowledgment.
These older recruits did not leave to fight Putin’s war. They left because they had already lost the war against hunger and despair in Cuba. They accepted the unthinkable: risking their lives in an unfamiliar country for an army that would treat them as expendable.
This article paints a portrait of a generation aging under the weight of an entire island. Even so, they end up in a trench, under snow and shellfire, far from home.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cuban Mercenaries in Ukraine
Why are older Cubans being recruited as mercenaries?
Older Cubans are being recruited due to the dire economic situation in Cuba, which leaves them with no other viable options for survival. The lack of opportunities and the need to escape poverty drive them to consider such desperate measures.
What is the role of the Cuban government in this situation?
The Cuban government has been accused of neglecting its most vulnerable citizens, leaving them susceptible to foreign recruitment. Instead of offering protection or support, the regime has contributed to the conditions that force these individuals into such dire circumstances.