Havana/The Cuban Foreign Ministry assured this Saturday that it “does not participate” in the war between Ukraine and Russia, although it recognized that there are nationals recruited through organizations with no ties to Havana or who participate “on their own.” “The Cuban Government categorically ratifies that Cuba is not part of the armed conflict in Ukraine, nor does it participate with military personnel there, or in any other country,” Foreign Affairs stated.
The statement adds that “the Cubans participating in both sides of the armed confrontation have been recruited through organizations that do not reside” in Cuba, “nor have any ties with the Cuban Government.” Likewise, he assures that he does not have information about the Cubans who “on their own have participated or participate in the military forces of both parties in the war.”
“What is irrefutable is that none of them has the encouragement, commitment or consent of the Cuban State for their actions,” the Foreign Ministry indicated.
Four days ago, Cuba denounced that the United States “pressures” other countries not to vote in favor of the resolution it presents annually at the UN against Washington’s embargo.
Cuba denounced For four days now, the United States has been “pressuring” other countries not to vote in favor of the resolution it presents annually at the UN against Washington’s embargo. Although the Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez, did not specifically mention the reason for his statements, the Reuters agency published, based on an internal State Department cable to which it had access, that Washington’s main argument is that Cuba “actively” supports Russia in the invasion of Ukraine, “with up to 5,000 Cubans fighting alongside Moscow’s forces.”
In this regard, Havana responded this Saturday that these are “mendacious accusations” from the United States and “a slanderous accusation that began in 2023 by some media outlets, without providing evidence or foundation of any kind, and clearly carrying out an entrusted service.”
“The Cuban Government, in accordance with its national legislation and its international obligations, has a practice of zero tolerance for mercenarism, human trafficking and the participation of its nationals in any armed confrontation in another country, all of which constitute crimes with very severe sanctions in the national legal system,” he said. He also added that in the last two years, 26 people have been sentenced to between five and 14 years in prison for the crime of mercenarism in the country.
Last July 14ymedio published a reportage about the detention of 11 Cubans in Matanzas accused of mercenarism after purchasing tickets to travel to Russia in 2024. All of the detainees are being investigated for their alleged intention to participate as soldiers in the service of the Russian Army in the war against Ukraine.
Among those detained is Amaury, a former member of the Ministry of the Interior, resident in Havana, and who has training as a sniper.
Among those detained is Amaury, a former member of the Ministry of the Interior, resident in Havana, and who has training as a sniper and driver in FAR units. Another detainee, known as Tasé, is from Baracoa and was part of an alleged mixed martial arts team. He was traveling, according to his version, to participate in a “cultural exchange” in Russia, an alibi repeated in other similar cases. All of the detainees, except one, have ties to the Armed Forces.
In a hearing in the US Congress last September, Andriy Yusov, spokesman for Ukrainian military intelligence, gave the number of Cubans killed in the war: “40 confirmed by name.” Likewise, there were 20,000 fighting on the Russian side against Ukraine, joined by 250 with expired contracts but still in Russian units.
“We have identified at least 20,000 Cubans recruited by Russia. More than 1,000 have been verified with name and contract. Many of them died without their families receiving compensation,” he stated. The data would place the Island as the largest supplier of foreign fighters to Putin’s side, after North Korea, he said. However, and although it is not known how many troops Pyongyang has sent to Moscow, Seoul has calculated two volleys: one of 10,000 soldiers to Kursk in 2024 and another of 6,000 more this spring.
