Havana denies that there are between 5,000 and 20,000 Cuban combatants in the Russian Army.
14ymedio/EFE, Havana, 11 October 2025 –The Cuban Foreign Ministry asserted this Saturday that it is “not participating” in the war between Ukraine and Russia, although it acknowledged that some Cubans are recruited through organizations with no ties to Havana or are participating “on their own.” “The Cuban government categorically confirms that Cuba is not part of the armed conflict in Ukraine, nor is it participating with military personnel there or in any other country,” the Foreign Ministry stated.
The statement adds that “the Cubans participating on both sides of the armed conflict have been recruited through organizations that do not reside” in Cuba, “nor have any ties to the Cuban government.” It also asserts that it has no information on the Cubans who “have participated or are participating on their own in the military forces of both sides in the war.”
“What is irrefutable is that none of them have the encouragement, commitment, or consent of the Cuban State for their actions,” the Foreign Ministry stated.
Four days ago, Cuba denounced the ‘presure’ from the US on other countries to avoid voting in favor of the resolution it presents annually at the UN against Washington’s embargo
Four days ago, Cuba denounced the “pressure” from the US on other countries to avoid voting in favor of the resolution it presents annually at the UN against Washington’s embargo. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez did not specifically mention the reason for his statements, Reuters reported, but based on an internal State Department cable to which it had access, Washington’s main argument is that Cuba “actively” supports Russia in the invasion of Ukraine, “with up to 5,000 Cubans fighting alongside Moscow’s forces.”
In this regard, Havana responded this Saturday that these are “false accusations” from the US and “a slanderous accusation that began in 2023 by some media outlets, without providing any evidence or basis, and clearly performing an entrusted service.”
“The Cuban government, in accordance with its national legislation and international obligations, has a zero-tolerance policy for mercenarism, human trafficking, and the participation of its nationals in any armed confrontation in another country, all of which constitute crimes with very severe penalties under the national legal system,” it stated. It also added that in the last two years, 26 people have been sentenced to prison terms of between five and 14 years for the crime of mercenarism in the country.
Last July, 14ymedio published a report on the arrest of 11 Cubans in Matanzas accused of mercenarism after purchasing tickets to travel to Russia in 2024. All those detained are being investigated for their alleged intention to participate as soldiers in the service of the Russian Army in the war against Ukraine.
Among those arrested is Amaury, a former member of the Ministry of the Interior, resident in Havana, and trained as a sniper.
Among those arrested is Amaury, a former member of the Ministry of the Interior, resident in Havana, who has trained as a sniper and driver in FAR [Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces] units. Another detainee, known as Tasé, is from Baracoa and was part of a supposed mixed martial arts team. He was traveling, according to his version, to participate in a “cultural exchange” in Russia, an alibi repeated in other similar cases. All but one of the detainees have ties to the Armed Forces.
At a US Congressional hearing last September, Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukrainian military intelligence, gave the number of Cubans killed in the war: “40 confirmed by name.” He also estimated that 20,000 were fighting on the Russian side against Ukraine, along with 250 whose contracts had expired but who remain in Russian units.
“We have identified at least 20,000 Cubans recruited by Russia. More than 1,000 have been verified by name and contract. Many of them died without their families receiving compensation,” he stated. The data would place the island as the largest supplier of foreign fighters to Putin’s camp, after North Korea, he maintained. However, although it is unknown how many troops Pyongyang has sent to Moscow, Seoul has estimated two waves: one of 10,000 soldiers to Kursk in 2024 and another of 6,000 more this spring.
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