The Cuban government firmly rejected any involvement in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, dismissing allegations as "slanderous." In a statement from the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government criticized the United States for spreading false claims regarding Cuba's alleged participation in the military conflict in Ukraine, labeling these accusations as baseless and part of a deliberate misinformation campaign initiated in 2023.
Regarding the involvement of Cuban mercenaries in the conflict, the government stated that it lacks "specific information on Cuban nationals who have independently joined military forces on either side of the war." The statement emphasized that none of these individuals have the "endorsement, commitment, or consent of the Cuban state" for their actions.
The report further detailed that between 2023 and 2025, Cuban courts have processed nine criminal cases related to mercenarism, involving 40 defendants. Of these, eight trials have taken place, resulting in convictions for 26 individuals with sentences ranging from 5 to 14 years of imprisonment. Three cases await sentencing, and one is pending trial.
The Cuban government insisted that recruitment agencies are not based in Cuba and have no ties to the Cuban government. "Most recruitment occurs abroad among nationals residing or temporarily staying in various countries," the statement noted, highlighting that this practice is common for conflicts involving multiple nationalities.
This is not the first instance where Cuba has distanced itself from the participation of its nationals in the Ukraine war. In June, Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío publicly acknowledged and condemned the recruitment of Cubans as soldiers in the conflict.
Despite the Cuban government's assertions, Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) recently reported that Russia has recruited at least 20,000 Cuban citizens to serve as mercenaries in its war against Ukraine. According to Andriy Yusov, a representative of HUR, Cuba is a primary source of foreign fighters for Moscow.
Business Insider, referencing Yusov's statements, reported that 1,038 Cubans signed contracts with the Russian military between June 2023 and February 2024. The average age of these recruits is around 35, and they are offered a monthly salary of approximately $2,000. HUR also stated that at least 250 remained on the front lines after their contracts expired and that foreign recruits typically face a high mortality rate within 140 to 150 days of deployment.
The Ukrainian agency has documentation, including lists with names, ages, contract dates, and deaths of Cuban recruits. Furthermore, a legal testimony in Russia mentioned a recruiter involved in enlisting 6,000 to 7,000 individuals.
The spokesperson explained that the Kremlin benefits from using foreign mercenaries, such as Cubans, because it avoids the obligation to provide social benefits or face pressure from families within Russia if a foreigner dies.