According to the Cuban Foreign Ministry, Russia has been operating a human trafficking ring that forcibly “recruits” Cubans to fight for Russia in its war against Ukraine. While Russia and Cuba are close allies, the Cuban government has stressed it is “not part of the conflict in Ukraine.” 

Forced to fight 

Ryazan Gazette, a popular Russian newspaper, recently reported that Cubans living in Russia had willingly joined Russian combat forces fighting in Ukraine in exchange for the promise of Russian citizenship. While Russia is claiming that Cubans are “volunteering” to fight, the Cuban Foreign Ministry has evidence that Cubans living in Russia, and even some living in Cuba, are being forced to fight through a Russian human trafficking ring.  

Read more