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The Cuban government says it is unraveling a covert Russian campaign to recruit Cuban fighters for the Ukraine war, a move that comes as Moscow tries to draw developing countries to its side in the conflict.
In a statement Monday night, Cuba’s foreign ministry said it was “working hard to dismantle and dismantle human trafficking networks operating in Russia” that “incorporate Cuban citizens living there, and even some Cuban citizens living in Cuba, into the military ” ” Fighting in Ukraine.
The statement added that the Cuban government has launched criminal proceedings against those involved.
“Cuba has a firm and clear historical stance against (mercenaries)” and “is not involved in the war in Ukraine,” the statement said.
That was unusual criticism from Havana, which has historical ties to Russia and has rarely broken with Moscow on international issues. Cuba’s ruling Communist Party, which for decades has sought to paint America’s international ambitions as imperialist, has found itself in an awkward position following Russia’s sweeping invasion of Ukraine.
Russia has long been a destination for Cuban immigrants seeking to escape poverty from the island, which has been cut off from much of the global economy by U.S.-led sanctions and the collapse of its main funder, the Soviet Union, at the end of World War II. cold war. Russia does not require visitor visas for Cubans.
Andrés Petilla, a Cuba researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said the sanctioned Caribbean country has often used its relationship with Russia — which includes rail infrastructure, trade and debt renegotiation agreements — to pressure the U.S. Make a concession.
“Cuba can bring Russia closer when the U.S. doesn’t want to negotiate, and then calm down when the U.S. comes to the negotiating table,” Petilla said. “They don’t want relations with Russia to deteriorate anytime soon.”
Cuba is in deep economic crisis. Economy Minister Alejandro Gil told parliament in July that economic growth this year was less than 2%, 8 percentage points below pre-pandemic levels. Power outages continue to plague the country, sparking protests last year and rare expressions of displeasure from a closely monitored population.
At the same time, Russia has been grappling with domestic arms production and acquiring weapons from a limited number of allies to support the war effort.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been seeking new ammunition, soldiers and mercenaries and has expressed a desire to deepen military ties with countries including North Korea as Russia tries to contain a counteroffensive in southern and eastern Ukraine.
The Cuban announcement came a day after the White House said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was expected to travel to Moscow to meet with Putin to discuss Pyongyang’s arms sales to Russia.
In May, a newspaper in the Russian city of Ryazan reported that some Cubans had been contracted by the Russian military and sent to support the fight in Ukraine.
Last week, Alain Paparazzi Cubano, a YouTube personality who is often critical of Cuba, spoke to two Cuban men who claim they were lured to Russia by promises of construction work and then forced to live in Ukraine. Digging trenches at the front.
The Cuban foreign ministry statement made no mention of either report.
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