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The Cuban-American congresswoman María Elvira Salazar denounced this Thursday that the regime in Havana is obtaining millions of dollars by sending young Cubans as soldiers to the war in Ukraine, in alliance with Russia.
During a press conference at the Capitol, alongside his Republican colleagues Mario Díaz-Balart and Carlos Giménez, Salazar cited information from Ukrainian intelligence that would confirm the presence of thousands of Cubans forced to fight for Russia.
"Ukrainian intelligence has confirmed that thousands of young Cubans are being forced to fight for Russia. Given Putin's desire to recruit 'disposable' soldiers, the regime is making millions by sending its own youth to an early death. The Cuban dictatorship has always profited by treating its people as commodities—first doctors, now soldiers. We must stop them!" emphasized the congresswoman.
The conference coincides with the farewell on Facebook that a young Cuban gave to his father, Giovani Gómez Basulto, known as “el Chino,” who died after enlisting in the Russian army to fight in the war in Ukraine.
Gómez Basulto joined the Russian ranks lured by promises of high salaries and immigration benefits. Sources close to the family confirmed to CiberCuba that he was among the Cubans who traveled to Russia to enlist as contracted soldiers, a phenomenon that has grown significantly since 2023.
In June, Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío denied that the Cuban government has links to the recruitment of its citizens for the war, although he acknowledged that an investigation is underway into a human trafficking network for military purposes operating between Russia and Cuba.
“The Cuban government has already publicly denounced this phenomenon. Our laws prohibit a citizen under our jurisdiction from participating in foreign wars, and it is something that is punished in Cuba,” he said in statements to Democracy Now!.
However, journalistic investigations contradict the official version. The Ukrainian outlet Schemes revealed that several hundred Cubans are part of Russian units such as the 106th Airborne Division, and that some were wearing insignias from the Wagner group on the battlefield.
The case of Andorf Velázquez and Alex Vega, both just 19 years old, raised international alarms. Both reported being deceived with promises of construction jobs, only to end up recruited in Russian military bases, where they were beaten and stripped of their documents.
Everything has been a scam. We are scared, they said in a video disseminated by América TeVé.
Additionally, a Russian official revealed to The Moscow Times that many recruits were arriving directly from Cuba with contracts signed with the Russian Ministry of Defense, and that in his unit there were “only Cubans and Serbs.”
Despite the magnitude of the scandal, the Cuban government has not provided clear figures or details about judicial proceedings against those responsible. Meanwhile, dozens of families on the island continue to hear nothing from their children, who are missing in the Kremlin's war machine.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Recruitment of Cubans in the War in Ukraine
How is the Cuban regime involved in the recruitment of young people for the war in Ukraine?
The Cuban regime has been accused of gaining economic benefits by sending young Cubans as soldiers to the war in Ukraine, in collaboration with Russia. While the Cuban government has officially denied any involvement, journalistic investigations and testimonies from the recruits themselves contradict this narrative, suggesting that the regime could at least be complicit by allowing young people to be deceived and recruited.
What do the testimonies of the recruited young Cubans say?
The testimonies of young Cubans such as Alex Vega and Andorf Velázquez reveal that they were deceived by false promises of construction work in Russia and ended up being recruited for the Russian army. They reported being beaten and stripped of their documents, highlighting the vulnerability of these young people to recruitment networks disguised as job offers.
What has been the international reaction to the recruitment of Cubans for the war in Ukraine?
The international community, including the European Parliament, has strongly condemned the recruitment and deployment of Cubans in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The European Parliament has called for the immediate cessation of these activities and has highlighted the seriousness of the involvement of Cuban mercenaries in the conflict, emphasizing the violation of human rights and the use of these young people as "cannon fodder."
What measures has the Cuban government taken in response to the recruitment allegations?
The Cuban government has officially denied having links to the recruitment of citizens for war and has stated that it is investigating a human trafficking network for military purposes. However, no clear figures or details about specific actions have been provided, which has increased suspicions of complicity or negligence on the part of the Cuban regime.
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