Cuba Exposes Criminal Network Recruiting Mercenaries for Russia

Cuban authorities have uncovered a human trafficking network that forced Cubans to fight on the side of Russia in the war with Ukraine. 

This was stated in the report of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba.

"The Ministry of Internal Affairs has identified and is working on neutralizing and dismantling the human trafficking network that operates from the territory of Russia with the aim of incorporating Cuban citizens residing there, and even some residing in Cuba, into the armed forces participating in military operations on Ukrainian territory," the ministry reported.

Cuban officials also emphasized that their country is not a participant in the war in Ukraine. They have a firm and clear stance against the recruitment of their citizens for involvement in the Russian war, and they are determined to act decisively against those "who, on national territory, engage in any form of human trafficking for the purpose of recruitment."

Meanwhile, according to Reuters, at the end of May this year, a Russian newspaper in Ryazan reported that several Cuban citizens had signed contracts with the armed forces of the Russian Federation and were sent to Ukraine in exchange for Russian citizenship.

It is worth noting that last year, Russia announced its intention to increase its own armed forces by more than 30% to 1.5 million servicemen. This policy is driven in part by unexpectedly high losses in the war with Ukraine. As of the 560th day of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war, according to the Ukrainian General Staff, Russia has lost approximately 266,290 military personnel.

The Kremlin is utilizing all possible means for mobilization, including replenishing its armed forces with the least protected segments of the population. In the fall of 2022, it became known that Russian President Vladimir Putin had signed a decree amending legislation to allow the mobilization of men convicted of serious crimes who had recently been released from prison.

Additionally, former leader of the PMC Wagner, Evgeny Prigozhin, who recently died in an airplane crash, was repeatedly observed recruiting criminals directly in prison facilities throughout Russia.