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The Ukrainian government has no intention of releasing or repatriating the Cuban citizens captured on the war front while fighting as mercenaries in the service of Russia.
This was confirmed by a Ukrainian official to journalist Mario J. Pentón, who warned that the only possibility for these prisoners to be released would be through a swap with Moscow.
The statement comes amid increasing concern for the fate of young Cubans recruited by the Russian army under false promises of employment.
Among them is Ernesto Míchel Pérez Alvelaes, a native of Trinidad, Sancti Spíritus, who was captured by Ukrainian forces after surrendering voluntarily.
"Many did not survive. They told me I was going to work in construction, but it was a lie," recounted the young man, who reported the death of at least 10 compatriots on the front line.
Families in Cuba have pleaded for mercy for their children, but Kiev remains steadfast in its position.
“They will not be released or sent to Cuba,” said the official interviewed by Pentón, in statements released this Tuesday.
The situation of the Cuban mercenaries was discussed last week in a national security meeting at the Capitol in Washington D.C., where Cuban-American congress members denounced the complicity of the Havana regime in the recruitment.
According to the Ukrainian delegation present, thousands of citizens from the island have been used as cannon fodder by Russia, with logistical support from the Cuban government.
Exile organizations, such as the Assembly of the Cuban Resistance, have called for international sanctions against Havana and for it to be designated as a terrorist state.
“We denounce the exploitation of the Cuban people by the Castro communist dictatorship, sending young people to die in a conflict that does not represent the interests of the Cuban nation,” stated Orlando Gutiérrez Boronat, spokesperson for the ARC.
The phenomenon has grown since 2023, when hundreds of Cubans were drawn in by offers of high salaries and Russian citizenship, but ended up in military units such as the 106th Airborne Division and squads of the Wagner Group.
Despite the Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío denying any official involvement, investigative media in Ukraine have documented the massive presence of Cubans within the Russian ranks.
Meanwhile, on the island, families continue to await official answers. Many are uncertain whether their children are alive or dead, imprisoned in Ukraine or missing in the Kremlin's war machinery.
Frequently asked questions about Cuban mercenaries in the war in Ukraine
Why won't Ukraine release the captured Cuban mercenaries?
Ukraine has no intention of freeing or repatriating the Cuban citizens captured while fighting as mercenaries for Russia. The only possibility for these prisoners to be released would be through a prisoner exchange with Moscow.
What is the situation of the Cuban youths recruited by Russia?
Many young Cubans were recruited under false promises of employment in Russia and end up on the front lines in Ukraine. They were promised high salaries and Russian citizenship, but were deceived and sent to military units without preparation or informed consent.
Is the Cuban government involved in the recruitment of mercenaries?
The Cuban government has officially denied any involvement in the recruitment of its citizens for the war in Ukraine. However, media reports and testimonies suggest that there may be structural complicity, as many Cubans were recruited with official knowledge and support to leave the country.
What measures have been proposed against the Cuban regime for its involvement in the war?
Organizations and congress members have called for international sanctions against the Cuban government. They request that it be designated as a terrorist state due to its complicity in the recruitment of Cubans for the war in Ukraine.
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