A Cuban mercenary fighting alongside Russian forces in the Ukraine conflict has issued a desperate plea to his fellow countrymen, urging them not to follow his path or be lured to Russia by false economic promises.
In a video shared by Telemundo 51, the young man—one of four Cuban captives recently taken alive—reveals that he was coerced into signing a contract to go to the front lines. He claims he has not been paid, is not allowed to contact his family, and describes Russia as "a fraudulent government."
Addressing "all Cubans who lack opportunities in Cuba and choose to go to Russia," the mercenary, who remains detained in Ukraine, labels his journey as a mistake he hopes others will avoid. He denounces the notion that enlisting in the Russian army is a quick fix for economic woes, stating, "Everyone thinks Russia is a great country where you can get ahead, but it's not."
He recounts his arrival in Russia, where he was detained by police and forced to sign a contract to go to war. "In my case, I was detained by the police and made to sign a contract to go to war, and here I am," he explains.
From the battlefield, he asserts that recruits are not receiving the promised pay, are prohibited from communicating with their families, and are sent into combat without military training or knowledge. "Please, don't go to Russia, Latinos," he implores.
The Human Cost of War
The fighter repeatedly warns other young people from the island and the region: "Russia is a bad country for living and getting ahead. Don't go to war with Ukraine, don't sign any contracts because it's not worth it."
His message blends regret with a religious invocation: "I ask God for forgiveness for being in this place, but I also thank Him for being with me," he says, reflecting the constant fear of dying on the front lines.
Identifying Fallen Cubans
His denunciation comes as Ukraine begins to identify the bodies of Cubans killed fighting on the Russian side. Ukrainian authorities have identified the remains of 39 Cubans and are committed to continuing efforts to notify families about the fate of their loved ones, according to Maryan Zablotskiy, head of the Pro-Cuba Libre Committee in Ukraine’s parliament, during a press conference in Miami.
Zablotskiy highlighted that beyond the 39 identified, there are "hundreds of deceased Cubans" whose identities remain unknown. He noted that Ukraine holds four Cuban prisoners, treated humanely, and proposed two potential solutions: exchanging them for Ukrainian prisoners held by Russia or considering their release on humanitarian grounds if the Cuban government simultaneously frees political prisoners on the island.
Mercenaries and Geopolitical Strategies
Since the invasion began, Russia has not sought to include foreign fighters in exchanges, focusing only on Russian citizens, leaving foreign mercenaries more vulnerable. According to his data, the largest foreign contingent in Russian ranks is Cuban, based on reports from their foreign ministry.
During a conference organized by the Cuban Resistance Assembly and the Cuban Democratic Directorate, Zablotskiy presented a list shared with Cubanet, naming 1,028 Cubans recruited by Russia, including the 39 deceased, although he mentioned a total of 41 in his speech. The document shows only three Cubans died in 2023, while 36 perished in 2024, aged 23 to 58, highlighting the predominantly young profile of the recruits.
The Ukrainian legislator's revelations fit into broader estimates from Ukrainian authorities and exile sources, suggesting up to 25,000 Cuban citizens may have been recruited by Russia for the invasion, illustrating the scale of this phenomenon.
The Deceptive Lure of Economic Gain
The primary incentive is financial: Forbes magazine reports that Russia offers salaries around $2,000 monthly, a staggering amount compared to the average $20 a Cuban worker earns on the island. Yet, this financial bait conceals a web of deceit and exploitation.
There have been documented cases of fraudulent civilian job offers in Russia, leading unsuspecting recruits to sign military contracts unknowingly and face deployment without proper preparation or clear information. Many signed documents in Russian without official translation, leaving them legally defenseless.
Ukraine's Defense Intelligence (HUR) sees the use of foreign fighters as a low-political-cost strategy for the Kremlin: if foreign recruits die, there are no social benefits to pay or pressure from Russian families upset by the casualties.
In this context, the Cuban mercenary's video plea not to go to Russia or sign combat contracts in Ukraine adds to the growing data from Kyiv and the exile community: hundreds of Cuban deaths, thousands recruited under dubious promises, and families on the island left in uncertainty about the fate of their loved ones.
His message, "it's not worth it," encapsulates his assessment from the trenches of a war he claims to have entered under deception and coercion, from which he now only hopes to emerge alive.
Key Questions on Cuban Mercenaries in Ukraine
What is the main message of the Cuban mercenary in Ukraine?
The mercenary warns fellow Cubans not to be deceived by promises of economic gain and to avoid traveling to Russia to fight in the war, as they face non-payment, isolation from families, and life-threatening conditions.
How many Cuban fighters have been identified as deceased in Ukraine?
Ukrainian authorities have identified the bodies of 39 Cuban fighters, with ongoing efforts to discover the identities of more fallen combatants.
What financial incentives are offered to Cuban recruits in Russia?
Recruits are promised salaries of approximately $2,000 per month, which is significantly higher than the average income in Cuba. However, these promises often turn out to be deceptive.