A Ukrainian soldier with Cuban roots testified before the United Nations Security Council on Monday, detailing the 1,183 days he spent as a prisoner of war under Russian captivity. He recounted experiencing torture and particularly harsh treatment because of his Cuban heritage.
At 27, Khuan Alberto Leyva Garsiya was born in Mariupol to a Ukrainian mother and a Cuban father. He was captured in May 2022 when the last defenders of the Azovstal steel plant surrendered after weeks of resisting the Russian siege on the city.
According to an Associated Press report, his captors initially suspected him of being a foreign mercenary due to his Cuban background. They even considered him a potential U.S. spy because he had attended university in the United States.
Russian Indignation Over Cuban Ties
However, his Cuban connection took on a different meaning for his captors, as he recounted at the United Nations. "The Russians were outraged that someone with a connection to Cuba, whom they see as an ally, was fighting against their occupying forces," Leyva Garsiya stated.
He revealed that during his imprisonment, he endured beatings, electric shocks, exposure to extreme cold, and sexual abuse. Tragically, some of his fellow prisoners did not survive.
"Two of my friends were beaten to death in detention centers in the Donetsk region. Two others died from the conditions in Russian prisons and were returned in plastic bags," he shared.
A Fraught Liberation
When finally freed in August 2025, Leyva Garsiya weighed only 121 pounds. During his appearance before the Security Council, he displayed a photograph showing his emaciated condition after his captivity, as evidence of the harsh conditions he endured for more than three years.
His story is particularly significant due to his Cuban heritage. While many Cubans have ended up fighting for Russia in the Ukraine invasion, Leyva Garsiya was born and raised in Ukraine and chose to defend his birthplace.
The Ukrainian project "I Want to Live" has identified over 1,000 Cubans recruited into the Russian army, highlighting international concerns about the networks used to enlist citizens from the island.
Allegations of Torture and International Reactions
In Leyva Garsiya's case, his Cuban ancestry became a factor that made him a target for Russian captors who view Cuba as an ally. The European Parliament condemned the recruitment and deployment of Cuban citizens for Russia's invasion of Ukraine in July 2025. Meanwhile, Havana's government has officially denied involvement in these recruitment networks.
More than 95% of Ukrainian prisoners of war interviewed reported experiencing torture. Claudia Fuentes Julio, the UN's Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, shared during the meeting that over 16,000 civilians remain detained by Russia, and many have suffered severe mistreatment.
Russia Denies Allegations
Russia's deputy ambassador to the UN, Maria Zabolótskaya, dismissed the session as part of a "disinformation campaign against Russia, funded by NATO countries involved in the Ukraine conflict."
Leyva Garsiya was released as part of an exchange that allowed 33 military personnel and 51 civilians to return home, and he continues to serve in the Ukrainian army. Ukrainian Deputy Ambassador Volodymyr Pavlichenko noted that during the meeting, the Russian delegation showed no willingness to negotiate the return of prisoners of war, including their own.
Despite over three years of captivity, Leyva Garsiya's testimony to the United Nations underscored the paradox of his story: being the son of a Cuban did not bring him closer to those who view Havana as an ally. Instead, he claimed it became another reason for his mistreatment while imprisoned.
Key Questions on Cuban-Ukrainian Conflict
Why was Khuan Alberto Leyva Garsiya captured by Russian forces?
He was captured during the defense of the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, where Ukrainian forces resisted the Russian siege for weeks before surrendering in May 2022.
How did Leyva Garsiya's Cuban heritage affect his treatment as a prisoner?
His Cuban background led his captors to suspect him of being a foreign mercenary or a U.S. spy, and it ultimately became a reason for harsher treatment because Russia views Cuba as an ally.
What was the international response to the recruitment of Cubans in the Russian army?
The European Parliament condemned the recruitment of Cuban citizens for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, while the Cuban government has denied any involvement in such activities.