Cuba’s foreign ministry has disclosed the unearthing of a human trafficking network that manipulated Cuban citizens into joining the war in Ukraine on Russia’s side.
Reports indicate that this operation spans from the heart of Cuba, an island far from Moscow’s borders, all the way to Russia itself.
Amidst its ambitions to amplify its military presence, Russia announced an intention last year to augment its armed forces by 30 per cent. Aiming for a total of 1.5 million combat personnel, this move has been further complicated by Russia’s undisclosed losses in the ongoing war.
Cubans in Ukraine: A trade for citizenship?
A report originating from a Russian newspaper in Ryazan city last May added another layer to this narrative.
It indicated that several Cubans had entered contracts with the Russian military, being dispatched to the Ukrainian frontlines in exchange for the promise of Russian citizenship.
According to reports, it was not immediately clear if the Cuban foreign ministry statement was associated with the Ryazan report.
Cuba-Russia relations
While Russia and Cuba share a strong political kinship, with Cuba’s communist governance mirroring Russia’s own political ideologies, the Caribbean nation has been a beacon for Cubans hoping to elude economic stagnation.
Earlier in the year, defense talks between Cuba and Russia hinted at the evolution of “technical military” projects.
Despite these connections, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel’s office has firmly denied any engagement in the Ukrainian dispute.
More on Russia-Ukraine war
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- Bahamas financial regulators impose sanctions on Russia
- Jamaican students who fled Ukraine receive education grants from PNP
Cuba’s Stance: Defending sovereignty and its citizens
Reiterating its neutral position, Cuba’s foreign ministry said, “Cuba is not part of the war in Ukraine.”
The Caribbean nation has expressed its resolute stance against any forms of human trafficking, especially when its citizens are being used as mercenaries. The nation promises robust action against culprits involved in such operations.
Legal action on the horizon
Cuba has already set the wheels of justice in motion, prosecuting those instances where its nationals were unlawfully pressed into combat roles in Ukraine.
They are committed to curbing such malicious endeavors and have initiated legal proceedings against the individuals embroiled in these transgressions.
