On Tuesday, Ukraine's government dismissed the statements made by Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX), which labeled as "baseless and false" the accusations by the U.S. State Department regarding Cuban citizens' involvement in Russia's war against Ukraine. Through its humanitarian initiative 'I Want to Live' (Хочу Жить), under the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Kyiv asserted that there is no doubt about the presence of thousands of Cuban mercenaries within Russian forces. The Ukrainian project accused Havana's regime of "failing to adequately prevent the systematic recruitment" of its citizens by Moscow.
"The fact that thousands of Cubans have fought and continue to fight as part of the Russian army has long been an open secret," stated the announcement released on the official channels of the Ukrainian project. According to 'I Want to Live,' which has recently shared lists of names and contracts of foreign combatants, over 1,000 Cubans have signed agreements with the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, with the real number likely exceeding 5,000, as also confirmed by the U.S. State Department in a diplomatic letter sent to various embassies worldwide.
This project, which facilitates the voluntary surrender of Russian and foreign soldiers, released in May the data of over a thousand contracted Cubans and interviewed several Cuban-origin prisoners of war, including Frank Darío Jarrosay Manfuga, captured on the eastern front in 2024. Since then, other compatriots have surrendered to Ukrainian forces, such as Ernesto-Michel Pérez Albelaes from Sancti Spíritus, who signed his contract with the Russian army on August 28, 2025.
Continuous Cuban Presence in Russian Military Training
Ukrainian sources report a consistent Cuban presence in Russian military training centers, receiving regular updates on new groups arriving from Cuba and numerous casualties among the foreign ranks. The parallel initiative 'I Want to Find,' dedicated to locating missing soldiers, has also received inquiries from Cuban families seeking news about relatives recruited by Russia.
"There is no debate about the involvement of Cuban mercenaries in Russia's war against Ukraine. The real question is whether the Cuban government is doing enough to stop it," declared the statement. It acknowledged that Cuban courts have conducted nine trials for mercenarism-related crimes, involving forty defendants, but deemed these efforts "insufficient" given the scale of the issue.
"The resources and efforts poured by Russia into creating recruitment networks necessitate a more active response if Cuba truly opposes these illegal practices," the text continued. Ukraine urged Havana to follow India's example, whose government demanded the Kremlin cease recruitment and repatriate Indian citizens enlisted in the Russian army.
Ukraine's Call for Cuban Action
"The problem can be resolved if there is political will," affirmed 'I Want to Live,' warning that for now, Cuba's diplomatic efforts seem aimed at those who highlight the issue rather than those sending its citizens to their deaths. Kyiv's message also criticized the regime's lack of concern for Cubans captured on the frontlines.
"We hope Cuban authorities show interest in the fate of their citizens who fought against Ukraine and were captured. These individuals have become dispensable, both in Russia and their homeland," the statement concluded. The Ukrainian pronouncement follows just days after Cuba's foreign ministry rejected Washington's accusations, insisting that "Cuba is not involved in the armed conflict in Ukraine nor has military personnel in any country."
However, data released by international media, along with combatants' and families' testimonies, reveal a widespread participation of Cuban citizens recruited by Russia since 2023, often under deceit or false promises of employment. While Havana maintains a "zero tolerance" stance against mercenarism, Ukraine argues that the regime's inaction renders that claim a farce. Amid diplomatic dispatches, Moscow–Varadero flights, and contracts signed at Ryzan training bases, a reality has emerged that the Cuban government can no longer deny: thousands of its citizens are fighting and dying in a foreign war, under a flag that is not their own.
Cuban Mercenaries and Ukraine Conflict: Key Questions Answered
How many Cuban mercenaries are involved in the Russian invasion of Ukraine?
According to the Ukrainian humanitarian project 'I Want to Live,' over 1,000 Cubans have signed agreements with the Russian Armed Forces, though the actual number may exceed 5,000.
What actions has the Cuban government taken regarding the mercenary accusations?
Cuban courts have held nine trials related to mercenarism, involving forty defendants. However, Ukraine criticizes these efforts as insufficient given the scale of Russian recruitment activities.
What is the Ukrainian government's stance on Cuba's involvement in the conflict?
Ukraine asserts that the Cuban government's failure to adequately prevent its citizens from being recruited by Russia undermines Havana's claims of non-involvement in the conflict.
How has the international community reacted to the involvement of Cuban mercenaries?
The international community, including the United States, has expressed concern over Cuban citizens' participation in the conflict, with diplomatic messages being sent to various embassies worldwide.