Miami, United States. – The participation of Cuban citizens in the ranks of the Russian army, after the invasion of Ukraine ordered by Vladimir Putin, has been exposed again by an investigation of Schemes, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE / RL) Research Unit in Ukraine.
The note reveals the existence of a Cuban recruitment network to fight in the war, many of them under deception or motivated by the economic precariousness that live on the island.
Frank Dario Jarrosay Manfuga, a 36 -year -old Cuban, is one of these combatants. Captured by the Ukrainian forces, Manfuga said he never intended to participate in a war. “I never wanted to kill anyone. I never wanted to participate in a war. I have a family, ”he said. According to his testimony, he was deceived with the promise of a construction work and, when he arrived in Russia, he was forced to enlist in the army.
Cuban regime authorities They have assured Being measures against the traffic of people for military purposes, but the evidence found by journalists and research groups indicates otherwise. According to Orlando Gutiérrez-Boronatco -founder of the Cuban democratic directory, “this network could not work without the approval of the Cuban regime.” This leader of Cuban exile in Miami estimates that around 5,000 Cubans are fighting in the Russian army.
The documents obtained by Schemes researchers reveal that the recruitment of Cubans for war in Ukraine is a systematic practice. In September 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Minrex) of Cuba denied any link with the recruitment of its citizens for war. However, just a few days later, a filtration of documents showed that almost 200 Cubans had been destined to the Tula region, south of Moscow, for their military training.
The recruitment of Cubans has become more visible through social networks such as Vkontakte, where several mercenaries have published content related to their participation in the conflict. One of the identified Cubans, Rafael, known as “Chiki”, won notoriety after appearing on the Russian military television channel Zvezda. In an interview, Rafael wrote in artillery projectiles the phrase “Until sight, Baby“And he said” in love with Sarracene wheat, “a basic food in the Russian diet. His network profile also shows his images with patches associated with the Wagner group.
The investigation also shows that many of the Cubans have been trained in the 106th Airborne Division in Tula, which participated in the bloody battle for Bajmut, one of the most bloody of the conflict. In that battle, the death of a Cuban fighter identified as “Chiki” was reported.
The economic factor seems to be one of the main reasons why Cubans join the ranks of the Russian army. While the average salary in Cuba is insufficient to cover basic needs, a one -year contract in the Russian army can mean revenues of up to 2,000 dollars per month. For many, this is an opportunity to improve their economic situation, although it implies the risk of dying in the battle front.
The link between Russia and Cuba remains strong, with Havana benefiting from Russian oil shipments in recent years. According to data from the KSE and Kpler Institute, in 2024 more than 1.8 million barrels of Russian oil products were transported to Cuba, while in 2025 the figure already exceeds 700,000 barrels. These shipments have been key to the Cuban economy in the midst of an energy and food crisis that has caused protests on the island.
Although the Cuban regime has not openly recognized its support for Russian invasion to Ukraine, it has shown a position aligned with Moscow. In March 2024, the representative of Cuba before the UN, Pedro Luis Pedroso Cuesta, held the West responsible for “assuming that Russia would remain helpless before direct threats to her national security.” In May 2024, the Cuban ruler, Miguel Díaz-Canel, expressed his desires for success for Putin in the “Special Military Operation.”
