Russia recruits up to 15,000 Cubans for war in Ukraine, intelligence says
Russia recruits Cubans for war against Ukraine (illustrative photo: Getty Images)
Russia has recruited up to 15,000 Cuban citizens for the war against Ukraine. But the main goal of such actions is not military, but propaganda, said a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine Defense Ministry, Andrii Cherniak, in a comment to Donbas Realities.
He noted that Ukraine does not consider Cuban mercenaries recruited by Russia as a separate military force on the battlefield.
"In general, this number may be around 10, 12, or 15 thousand. This is a small number of people who were forced to sign a contract through deception or other means," Cherniak added.
According to him, first of all, Russia views Cuba as a zone of its geopolitical interests. And recruitment of Cubans is used by the enemy mainly for propaganda purposes.
"They use this in the political arena, for an internal audience. They are trying to show that Russia is not the aggressor, and that other countries of the so-called civilized world also support ideas and plans of Russia," said a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate.
Recruitment of Cubans
As early as October last year, Forbes wrote that Russia began actively replenishing losses at the front with citizens of Cuba.
The publication, citing Ukrainian intelligence, claimed that up to 25 thousand Cubans may be fighting on the side of Russia.
Journalists also clarified that it is more beneficial for Russia to involve foreigners in war, since their deaths will not cause dissatisfaction among Russians, and the state will not have to spend on payments to families of the deceased.
