Special Destination Units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba conducted training exercises as part of the activities for National Defense Day, and one of the images has sparked debate on social media.
The official profile of the Eastern Army shared the photo and received hundreds of comments. The image shows several Cuban military divers performing maneuvers in the sea, supported by autonomous breathing equipment and a torpedo-type underwater device.
The publication highlighted the training as a demonstration of the combat readiness of those special forces. However, the remarks of a former Cuban soldier who claimed to have belonged to that same unit in 2004 sparked a critical debate.
The former military officer questioned the actual operational capacity of the equipment. He stated that during his time, the resources were insufficient and outdated, that they had to share diving gear because it was not enough for everyone, and that they used domestically manufactured masks and fins that caused them injuries.
He also pointed out deficiencies in the underwater apparatus used for the maneuvers, which he identified as "tursub," and stated that the pressure indicators were unreliable, which limited the depth of immersion.
The statements contrast with the image of strength that military authorities try to project in their official publications.
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