The Production and Defense Brigades of the San Juan el Cristo Defense Zone, in Bayamo, featured in a new military preparation exercise that the regime promoted on social media under the hashtag #LaPatriaSeDefiende, which sparked a flood of critical comments from Cubans frustrated with power outages and shortages.
The post, shared on Facebook with images of groups of people gathered in squares and streets of the city, described the brigades as "prepared and ready" for defense.
The public response was immediate: dozens of comments turned the question "Prepared for what exactly?" into the focal point of a debate that blended humor, indignation, and despair.
"Lots of show, little substance," summarized one comment. Another user was more direct: "Three days without power, but here we go." A third pointed out bluntly: "If it's the production and defense brigade, then they should take them to a field to produce food."
The exercise is part of the campaign with which the regime declared 2026 as the "Year of Defense Preparation", instituting weekly sessions every Saturday under the doctrine of the "War of the Entire People."
Throughout the year, at least 15 National Defense Days have been held, including military drills by sea and air in Cienfuegos and the Meteoro 2026 Exercise in its 40th edition, with participation from Miguel Díaz-Canel himself.
The contrast between the official discourse and the reality of Bayamo did not go unnoticed. The province of Granma is experiencing power outages of up to 48 consecutive hours, and a Cuban journalist reported having only 20 hours of electricity in 10 days in that city.
Despite this, the authorities are prioritizing military preparedness. "And as a reward for participating: blackouts. Sure," wrote a Cuban. Another noted: "Without electricity, without water, and with a million kilometers of hunger, these people have no shame."
There were those who were more reflective: "What to produce? And what to defend? Every day I understand less. Defending those who oppress them doesn't feed them... how different from the Bayamo that set its city on fire. Hunger and doctrine have blinded them."
Some comments pointed out the painful truth about the voluntary nature of the exercise: "Forced by the workplace, many of the poor haven’t even had breakfast," noted a user. Another added: "What I want to know is how this comedy is going to transform life in Bayamo."
Skepticism also reached those who dared to publish the images. "At this moment, it's high-risk to make these kinds of publications. But thank you for the photos," warned a commentator, referring to the repression that criticizing the regime may entail.
This is not the first exercise that has sparked widespread ridicule in Cuba. Previous exercises in other provinces had already been mocked for using oxen yokes and outdated equipment to block roads, while the regime mobilized "combatants" to explain the blackouts to a population that experiences them daily.
"The hungrier and needier people are, the more they support their dictators. The circus will go on as long as there are people who applaud the clowns," concluded a Cuban in the comments, capturing the sentiment of those who view these displays as a distraction from the crisis ravaging the Island.
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