Cuba Rejects U.S. Claims of Military Involvement in Ukraine

On Saturday, Cuba rejected U.S. claims regarding its involvement in the military conflict in Ukraine, asserting that it has not sent troops to the area.

Cuba’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement refuting what it described as «false accusations» disseminated by the U.S. concerning Cuba’s alleged participation in the conflict in Ukraine.

The statement noted that 26 individuals from Cuba had received prison sentences ranging from five to 14 years for mercenary activities since September 2023, coinciding with reports suggesting that Cubans were being deployed to the frontlines in Ukraine.

Earlier this week, a spokesperson from the U.S. State Department informed AFP, «We are aware of reports indicating that Cuban nationals are fighting alongside Russian forces in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.»

«The Cuban regime has failed to shield its citizens from being exploited as instruments in the Russia-Ukraine war,» they added.

In May, a Ukrainian governmental initiative aimed at persuading enemy fighters to surrender stated that it had information about over 1,000 Cuban mercenaries recruited by Russia since early 2023.

The «I Want to Live» project reported, «We have verified the names and personal details of 1,028 Cubans who signed contracts with the Russian Armed Forces during 2023-2024.»

According to the statement from the Cuban foreign ministry, the authorities lack precise details about Cuban nationals who may be participating «individually» or «within the military forces of either side» in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

The ministry underscored, «It is undeniable that none of these individuals have the endorsement, support, or consent of the Cuban State for their actions.»

Family members of Cubans who traveled to Russia in 2023 told AFP at that time that their loved ones had been lured into recruitment through misleading social media advertisements.