At just 19 years old, Lázaro Daniel Monteros tragically lost his life while serving in the military at El Morro in Havana. This heart-wrenching news was initially reported by crime journalist Niover Licea and later confirmed by friends and family on social media, sparking widespread outrage and grief.
Licea highlighted the murky circumstances surrounding Monteros' death, underscoring the lack of official transparency. “Just two days after the Mandatory Military Service claimed the life of Antonio Alejandro Ressi, another young man from Ciego de Ávila, Lázaro Daniel Monteros, died under mysterious conditions that have not been properly explained to his family,” Licea reported.
He added that there are conflicting accounts, with one suggesting a head injury, but the specifics remain unclear. “He had just turned 19, and the dictatorship has shattered his dreams. Rest in peace, champion, strength to your family and parents. Justice!” concluded the reporter.
Community Mourns the Loss
Many individuals on social media, identifying as neighbors and acquaintances of Lázaro Daniel, have shared their sorrow:
“He was my neighbor, and his sister studied with me, a quiet and smart boy who kept to himself. A family-oriented child, well-raised by his mother. The neighborhood is in mourning, and the hearts of all of us neighbors are left with a void due to his loss. Rest in peace,” wrote Jeila González.
Another post by Yanerzon González revealed that the young man was just a day away from completing his service: “Rest in peace, my brother, may God have you in His glory. You were just one day away from being home with us. God will bring justice to whoever is responsible for what happened to you. Rest in peace.”
Marisel Paz publicly lamented the extinguishing of the young man's dreams of pursuing a university degree: “Rest in peace, my condolences to family and friends. His dreams of a university career were taken, but whoever killed his dreams must pay dearly. I don’t know his family, but people who did know him told me he was an exceptional young man. Fly high beside Almighty God,” she shared.
A Call to Cuban Mothers
Amid the sorrow, there are calls for families to refuse sending their sons to Military Service.
Maribel Hernández, identifying herself as the aunt of Antonio Alejandro Ressi, the other young man who recently died, expressed solidarity with Lázaro Daniel’s family. “I am the aunt of Antonio Ressi Roque, the young man we lost on Monday 18th at the Calvario unit. I have no words to express the immense pain this brings. I stand with you in your grief. Let us unite, mothers, grandmothers, aunts... all women, and not send our children to their deaths. May this other little angel rest in peace,” she wrote.
So far, military authorities have not released any official communication regarding the death of Lázaro Daniel Monteros.
Second Military Service Death in Under a Week
On August 18, Antonio Ressi Roque, aged 18, died at the Military Unit El Calvario in Havana following self-inflicted harm, as confirmed by sources close to his family to the independent outlet elTOQUE. This past Tuesday, the recruit was mourned and buried in the island's capital, where authorities remain silent on the deaths of young people during Military Service.
In recent years, casualties among those conscripted in this mandatory program have risen due to accidents, untreated illnesses, suicides, or abuse within military units. According to Félix Alfredo González, the father of a recruit who died in 2021, at least seven young men have died between July and August 2025 while serving.
González, a vocal critic against the mandatory Military Service, declared to elTOQUE that Cuban authorities are unaccountable for justice or reparations to the families. “The government turns a deaf ear,” he denounced, demanding justice for his son's death.
The passing of Antonio Rassi rekindles criticism of the Mandatory Military Service, a policy in place since 1963. Recently, even teenagers with severe health issues have been called up. In July, a young Cuban, just 18 and from the community of El Gabriel in Quivicán, Mayabeque province, died while on Active Military Service after days of severe pain and physical distress went ignored by officers.
Despite pleas from his parents to bring him home due to his deteriorating health, permission was denied, according to the young man's family. Various organizations and Cuban parents argue that Military Service has become a hazardous and abusive environment for adolescents and young adults, urging the State to end forced participation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cuban Military Service
What are the risks associated with Cuban Military Service?
Cuban Military Service has been criticized for posing risks such as accidents, untreated illnesses, suicides, and abuse within military units.
How has the Cuban government responded to these incidents?
The Cuban government has been largely unresponsive to these incidents, with families and critics accusing them of ignoring calls for justice and reparations.
Are there efforts to end Mandatory Military Service in Cuba?
There are calls from various organizations and parents for the Cuban government to end forced participation in Military Service due to the associated risks.