Facing mounting losses in Ukraine, Russia has recruited hundreds of Cuban nationals by offering lucrative salaries and prospects of Russian citizenship to bolster its invasion forces.
From: Euromaiden Press BY YURI ZORIA
Research by the BBC has confirmed that Russia has likely been recruiting Cuban nationals to fight in its army during the invasion of Ukraine.
In September and October 2023, passport details of some 200 Cubans who allegedly joined the Russian military were leaked online by a pro-Ukrainian OSINT group called Inform Napalm.
Desperate for more manpower after losing soldiers in Ukraine, Russia recruits foreign mercenaries or deceives foreign civilians into combat roles by promising well-paid non-combat positions. This recruitment drive extends globally, targeting economically challenged nations like Cuba, Nepal, and Central Asian countries, as part of Russia’s broader effort to bolster its forces.
According to Inform Napalm, the group Cyber Resistance obtained the leaked data by hacking the emails of a Russian military recruitment officer based in Tula, south of Moscow. BBC’s search on Facebook found 31 accounts matching names from the leak, with users posting photos of themselves wearing Russian military uniforms or at Russian locations.
Voice of Ukraine 