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The United States government has informed Congress that the Cuban regime may have played a role in supporting Russia in its war against Ukraine by allowing or facilitating the involvement of Cuban citizens as fighters in the conflict, according to an exclusive report published by Axios.
According to the report, based on an unclassified document from the State Department sent on April 8 to key Congressional committees, it is estimated that between 1,000 and 5,000 Cubans may be participating in military operations on the Russian side in Ukraine.
The information, cited by Axios, indicates that Cuban citizens have become one of the largest identifiable groups of foreign fighters on that front.
The report clarifies that there is no conclusive public evidence that the Havana government has officially sent troops, but it does indicate "significant markers" that the regime "tolerated, allowed, or selectively facilitated" the flow of citizens toward the war.
Additionally, the State Department asserts that Cuba has provided "diplomatic and political support to Moscow."
A spokesperson for the State Department quoted by Axios stated that "the Cuban regime has failed to protect its citizens from being used as pawns in the war between Russia and Ukraine."
This assessment reinforces Washington's stance that Havana bears indirect responsibility for the involvement of its nationals in the conflict.
The document also includes estimates from Ukrainian intelligence sources, which indicate that several thousand Cubans are deployed directly on the front lines.
Although the figures vary, the range of between 1,000 and 5,000 fighters is the most consistent among the open sources consulted.
The publication of this report comes in a context of increasing pressure from President Donald Trump's administration on the Cuban government.
According to Axios, the White House has intensified its campaign to force a leadership change on the island and has tightened measures such as the blockade of oil shipments.
Republican Senator Ted Cruz also commented on the issue in statements collected by the media, stating that “the Cuban regime undermines the interests of the United States around the world” and suggesting that a potential replacement of the government in Havana would be positive for Washington and its allies.
The presence of Cuban citizens in the war in Ukraine was first reported in 2023, when international media reported on recruitment campaigns by Russia.
Russian legislators such as Andrey Kartapolov, head of the Defense Committee of the Duma, had previously reported even higher figures of potential Cuban mercenaries joining the Russian ranks.
Subsequently, the Cuban government claimed to have initiated investigations and prosecuted cases related to human trafficking, although the State Department report indicates that these claims cannot be verified due to the opacity of the Cuban judicial system.
Axios also indicates that this topic had already been used by Washington in diplomatic scenarios, such as debates at the United Nations, where the U.S. argued the presence of Cuban fighters to oppose initiatives favorable to Havana.
At the same time, bilateral tensions have escalated in recent months amid statements from the ruling Miguel Díaz-Canel, who has reiterated his rejection of implementing political reforms such as the release of political prisoners or the holding of multiparty elections, conditions put forth by Washington.
The report cited by Axios adds to a growing confrontation scenario, in which the United States seeks to strengthen its argument that the Cuban regime not only represents an internal issue but also has implications for international conflicts.
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