Raudel Alejandro Guerra, a 19-year-old from the town of Navajas in Matanzas, tragically lost his life on Tuesday after being struck by high-voltage electricity while serving in the military at a unit in the Cidra area of the same province.
The heartbreaking news was shared by his mother, Olguita Hernández Rojas, through Facebook posts where she confirmed and mourned her son's untimely death.
In one post, she expressed, "Rest in peace, RAUDEL ALEJANDRO GUERRA, I love you, my son."
She continued in another post, "Son, may God hold you in the best place. I'm going to miss you so much. My heart is shattered into pieces. If I could trade my life for yours, I would do so without a second thought. What immense pain!"
When others inquired about the incident in the comments, the mother replied with a chilling phrase: "It was the 33000 at the unit."
The term "the 33000" refers to a high-voltage line of 33,000 volts.
This is not the first time this voltage has been associated with Cuban military service incidents. A recruit from Las Tunas survived a shock of the same voltage at a military post in Havana but endured over a year in intensive care. Unfortunately, Raudel did not share the same fate.
Second Soldier in Critical Condition
Subsequently, journalist Christian Arbolaez provided more details about the incident. Another young soldier was critically injured in the same accident at the time the news broke.
Arbolaez noted that "the exact circumstances of this tragedy are still unknown," and Cuban military officials have remained silent regarding the incident.
Raudel had been transferred from Navajas — part of Pedro Betancourt municipality — to Cidra, in Unión de Reyes municipality, to fulfill his service. This forced relocation from one's hometown is a common occurrence in similar cases.
Christian Arbolaez concluded his post with a poignant question reflecting the concerns of countless Cuban families: "How long will young lives continue to be lost during Mandatory Military Service in Cuba?"
A Disturbing Pattern of Deaths Without Accountability
According to a report by the independent outlet elTOQUE, at least 89 young individuals have died during Active Military Service over the past decade, with a staggering 280% increase between 2021 and 2022.
The Cuban Observatory of Citizen Audit raises that number to 97 deaths and disappearances from 2001 to the spring of 2026, with an average age of 18.7 years.
Just last September, Cubalex documented the deaths of two 18-year-old recruits during Military Service: Yandiel Jurado Lastre from Manzanillo, Granma, who died from a gunshot within a military unit, and Leordanis Ramón Ricardo Batista, who died in the Nipe area, Holguín, less than two months after joining.
The regime's response to each death has been systematically silent.
Of the 46 families consulted by elTOQUE, only eight reported any official investigation, and none resulted in clarifying the circumstances or establishing accountability.
Families seeking justice have faced retaliation: Orlando Lago Vega's father was sentenced to one year and six months in prison in 2023 for demanding an investigation into his son's death. Cubalex lawyer Raudiel Peña Barrios has emphasized that "when the state deprives a citizen of freedom or subjects them to absolute control, as in Military Service, it automatically assumes the position of guardian."
Frequently Asked Questions About Military Service Risks in Cuba
What led to the death of Raudel Alejandro Guerra?
Raudel Alejandro Guerra died after being electrocuted by a high-voltage line while serving in the military in Matanzas.
How has the Cuban government responded to these military service deaths?
The Cuban government has largely remained silent, with few official investigations and no accountability established for these incidents.
What is the frequency of these incidents during Cuban military service?
Reports indicate a significant number of deaths, with at least 89 in the past decade, and a sharp rise between 2021 and 2022.