Another young Cuban dies in the war in Ukraine

Another young Cuban identified as Jolius Bernal is reported to have died this week in the war between Russia and Ukraine, according to his relatives on social media.

Several Facebook profiles mourn the death of the young man this Wednesday – who lived in Havana and was a boxer – on the battlefield in Russia in Ukraine, according to information from his profile.

"Today I want to ask the Universe, all the angels and archangels, to give me the news that you are alive, that you are fighting for your family, that your heart is beating, you are super strong, and I trust you and the faith I have that you just haven't been able to report in but that you are okay," said a friend.

Another one added: "Jolius, you left and didn't fulfill the promise to reunite with me and Jesus and sit down to have some drinks while we laughed at each other. You left us with a deep sorrow in our souls."

So far, the circumstances surrounding Bernal's death have not been revealed. Some claim that apparently after an attack, there was no further communication with him. It is also unclear how the family obtained confirmation of his passing.

It is believed that between 400 and 3,000 Cubans have joined Putin's army as mercenaries under the deception of good salaries and migration guarantees.

In mid-March, the Ukrainian government reported in a press conference held in Kyiv the increasing presence of Cuban mercenaries in the war.

"We see photographs and videos from the Russian side showing many mercenaries from Cuba," said the press chief of the Ukrainian Committee for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, Petró Yatsenko.

The official criticized the Cuban regime for its tolerance regarding the recruitment of its citizens by Russia, despite reports that many travel deceived and confirmation that dozens of them, mostly young people, have died on the front.

"We cannot say that this is a state program, but we know that no one opposes it," declared Yatsenko, criticizing that "Russian agitators" work without restrictions in Cuba. Eight prisoners of war, among whom there was one Cuban, participated in that press conference.

In July, two other Cubans, one of them identified as Denis Frank Pacheco Rubio, a 42-year-old from Santa Clara, also died in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.