The message is brief. Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs only writes that it has identified attempts to recruit Cubans for the war in Ukraine – and that this was done by some type of Russian trafficking network.
Cuban authorities are said to have “neutralized and eliminated” the network of “traffickers operating in Russia”. A preliminary investigation has been launched, writes the ministry.
The attempts to recruit Cubans must have taken place both in Cuba and in Russia.
Former friendly countries
Cuba’s foreign ministry has not commented on whether any Cubans actually fought on the Russian side in Ukraine, or whether the Russian government has anything to do with the trafficking network.
Last May, the Russian regional newspaper Ryazan Gazette claimed that Cuban citizens had voluntarily joined the Russian army, reports The Guardian.
Russia and Cuba have had close relations since the Cold War, and Cuba has supported Russia even during the war in Ukraine, accusing the West of being the party that provoked the war.
The accusations that human traffickers tried to force Cubans to fight in Ukraine are a break in the previously good relations.
“Not part of the war in Ukraine”
Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also writes that it completely distances itself from the use of mercenaries.
“Cuba is not part of the war in Ukraine”, it saysand that it firmly distance itself from all forms of attempts to recruit Cuban mercenaries.
There has been no response from Moscow, writes The Guardian.