Cuban Military Personnel Allegedly Detained in Matanzas for Mercenary Activities

In the province of Matanzas, at least eleven individuals linked to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba are reportedly under arrest, suspected of engaging in mercenary activities. The allegations suggest they were recruited to fight in Russia's war against Ukraine, as reported by the independent outlet 14ymedio.

The accused were allegedly recruited by a Cuban officer known as "El Maestro," who, according to the source, organized travel logistics and arrangements for an informal recruitment network aimed at sending Cuban fighters to the Ukrainian front.

Promises of Russian Citizenship and Financial Incentives

According to testimonies collected by the source, the alleged mercenaries were promised Russian citizenship and an initial payment of $2,000 as part of an informal agreement with supposed Kremlin contacts. Although no official contracts have been disclosed, the narratives indicate a structured military recruitment scheme.

Those detained share a background in military training or state security experience. One individual, referred to as "Amaury," is a former Ministry of the Interior (MININT) official with sniper training, who was working as a driver for FAR units. Another, known as "Tasé" from Baracoa, identified himself as part of a mixed martial arts team and claimed his trip to Russia was for a “cultural exchange.”

The Eduardo Case and Matanzas Prisons

The plot partially came to light through the testimony of "Eduardo," a Cuban who was imprisoned for a year and four months in the Combinado del Sur, a maximum-security prison in Matanzas. Eduardo was reportedly arrested for purchasing a ticket to Russia on the same flight as the eleven individuals now under investigation.

Although he denied knowing them, he ended up sharing a cell with three of them. Eduardo was released on May 12. The arrests, as detailed by 14ymedio, are shrouded in secrecy, with no public statements from the Cuban regime or transparent judicial processes.

The alleged recruiter, "El Maestro," remains in custody but is separated from the other accused, currently held in the Canaleta prison in Jovellanos, Matanzas. This isolation has fueled the theory that his separation is a control strategy, intended to "prevent leaks among detainees or preserve hierarchies within the prison system."

One detainee at Combinado del Sur suspects that El Maestro was used as a scapegoat to quell the scandal and deny any state involvement in sending Cubans to war. There's also speculation that the recruiter might have acted independently.

Mercenary Activities: A Serious Crime in Cuba

In Cuba's penal code, mercenary activities are deemed a severe offense, punishable by up to 30 years in prison. The charges involve serving a foreign military in exchange for economic or political benefits.

Despite attempts by the island's authorities to distance themselves from the deployment of Cubans in the armed conflict, recent events and testimonies suggest the existence of active recruitment networks, potentially operating with the regime's knowledge or at least tacit approval.

While the Cuban government continues to officially deny involvement in the conflict, various accounts and leaks over the past two years have confirmed the presence of Cuban citizens on the Russian front. Many are young individuals without economic prospects on the island, lured by job offers or legalization opportunities in Russia.

One of the most dramatic cases is that of Francisco García, a 37-year-old Cuban who was deceived with the promise of working in building repairs in Russia, only to end up as a combatant on the front lines. He deserted in October 2024 and now lives on the streets of Athens, Greece, after paying nearly $13,000 to a trafficker to escape the conflict.

In recent months, reports have surfaced of Cubans killed on the front lines. The most recent case involved the death of Osvaldo David Rodríguez Donate, a young Cuban from Fomento, Sancti Spíritus province, who lost his life in a drone attack in Ukraine after being recruited by the Russian army.

The Cuban Government's Stance

The Cuban government claims no responsibility for recruiting Cuban citizens to participate as mercenaries in the Russia-Ukraine war, despite the allegations and testimonies affecting families both on and off the island.

In an interview with the American program Democracy Now!, Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío recently stated that Havana "publicly denounced" the phenomenon of Cubans enlisted as soldiers in that conflict. Fernández de Cossío asserted that Cuban nationals were identified fighting on both sides of the conflict: “Cubans have been detected on the side of Russia and on the side of Ukraine.”

According to the deputy minister, recruitment networks in Europe were responsible for enlisting individuals from various countries, including Cubans, to send them to the front lines. “Our laws prohibit a citizen under our jurisdiction from participating in the wars of other countries. It is something that is punishable by law in Cuba,” he affirmed.

However, multiple investigations and accounts from Cubans involved in the conflict paint a very different picture. A report by the Ukrainian outlet Schemes revealed the presence of several hundred Cubans fighting for the Russian army, many integrated into the 106th Airborne Division, active in some of the war's bloodiest battles, such as the one in Bakhmut.

Cuban fighters with Wagner Group insignias were also identified, promoting war propaganda on social media.