A young Cuban man diagnosed with severe leukemia survives under extreme conditions in Moscow, without money to return to Cuba and without consular assistance, while his mother makes an urgent plea on Facebook for someone to help bring him back.
Óscar Ramírez Pulido, a resident of Guanabacoa in Havana, can hardly walk, has had very little to eat for days, and is reportedly living inside a container in the Russian capital, according to the activist Lara Crofs, who publicized the case on social media.
In a brief video included in the post, Óscar's voice can be heard addressing his mother: "You will never be able to get me any money, and I'm going to die here and I'm all alone, mommy."
In addition to leukemia, the family reported that the young man suffers from another unspecified hematological disease, which further complicates his situation.
The mother has identified a way for her son to return to Cuba, but those who could help arrange it are demanding around 70,000 rubles, equivalent to about 800 dollars, a sum that neither Óscar nor she can afford.
Lara Crofs, who brought the case to light, was straightforward in her appeal: "We're not talking about luxuries or comforts; we're talking about a sick human being who needs care and a mother who is asking for help so her child can come home."
The call requests the intervention of humanitarian organizations, the Red Cross, consular authorities, or any individuals willing to contribute financially to cover the costs of the return.
Since early 2026, there have been documented raids against irregular Cuban migrants in Moscow, with transfers to the Sájarovo deportation center, where some remained uncommunicated for up to 71 days.
In July, Russia tightened its residency rules for foreigners, requiring proof of minimum income and granting only 15 days for those who do not meet the requirements to leave the country.
A testimony collected in late July described the situation of undocumented Cubans in Moscow living "locked up like rats" out of fear of raids, in addition to suffering from labor abuses and rental scams.
In mid-September, another Cuban family was asking for help to repatriate the body of Alberto Luis Peña Gaspar, a 34-year-old young man who passed away in Russia, in a case that illustrates the extent of the vulnerability faced by Cubans in that country.
The Cuban consulate in Moscow has been repeatedly criticized for not providing effective assistance for the repatriation of its citizens in distress, leaving families with no recourse but social media.
"Sometimes a post reaches the right person, an organization that can intervene, or someone who can simply contribute a small part," wrote Lara Crofs. "Óscar needs help, and his family needs to know they are not alone."
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