Oemis Romagoza Durruthy, originally from Camagüey, Cuba, who has been teaching dance in Russia for several years, is now the subject of an international manhunt by European authorities. They allege his involvement with a network orchestrating incendiary attacks and sabotage across various European Union countries during 2024.
An investigation by DW, in collaboration with media outlets in Lithuania, the Czech Republic, and Spain, claims that Romagoza coordinated operations allegedly linked to the GRU, Russia's military intelligence agency.
From Dance Academy Director to Alleged Saboteur
Romagoza has resided in Petrozavodsk, Russia, for at least seven years, where he runs the Latin dance academy Made in Cuba and teaches salsa, bachata, and kizomba. However, online, he reportedly used the aliases "Dios" and "Adrián" for entirely different activities.
Based on confidential court documents, leaked data, and interviews with security officials, the investigation pieced together a network of at least 12 recruits, primarily from Latin America. These individuals were allegedly hired to carry out sabotage missions in Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Lithuania between May and September 2024.
Recruitment and Sabotage Operations
Recruitment efforts were conducted through Facebook and Telegram. Some ads offered $1,500 plus a bonus for each completed mission, targeting individuals with military experience for roles in "monitoring, intelligence, logistics," and "tactical maneuvers."
Among those recruited was Luis Alfonso Murillo Diosa, a 34-year-old former Colombian soldier seeking to join the Ukrainian army to provide for his family. According to the investigation, "Dios" contacted him via Facebook, arranged his travel, accommodation, and transportation, and sent him to Bucharest in July 2024. There, he received instructions to photograph and later set fire to a recycling plant.
Murillo was apprehended near the site before he could execute the attack and was sentenced to six years in prison in 2025 for attempted sabotage.
Legal Actions and International Pursuit
The Lithuanian Prosecutor's Office has placed Romagoza on an international wanted list and filed terrorism charges in January 2026 against six foreign nationals for attempting to torch TVC Solutions facilities in Šiauliai.
The Cuban remains at large, with authorities suspecting he is still in Russia. Romagoza married a Russian citizen in 2022, securing Russian citizenship shortly thereafter.
As reported by DW, at least nine of his alleged recruits have been arrested, with two serving sentences ranging from six to eight years.
The Broader Implications of Disposable Agents
This case is part of a broader strategy attributed to Moscow, employing so-called "disposable agents"—individuals recruited online to carry out overseas operations, often unaware of who truly orchestrates these tasks.
Keir Giles, a conflict specialist, explained to DW that Russia intensified such operations after European nations expelled numerous Russian diplomats following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. "Russia doesn't have to be particularly cautious about covering its tracks, as it faces no real consequences for being detected," Giles noted.
This adds another layer to the recruitment of Cubans linked to Russia, previously highlighted mainly by the involvement of island nationals in the war against Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Romagoza's public persona remains that of a dance instructor. In April 2026, while already wanted by European authorities, Made in Cuba shared a video of him teaching a salsa class in front of a mirror to Cuban music.
Key Questions About International Sabotage Networks
How did European authorities link Romagoza to the sabotage network?
Through a collaborative investigation involving confidential court documents, leaked data, and interviews with security officials, Romagoza was linked to operations allegedly coordinated with Russia's GRU.
What methods were used to recruit individuals for sabotage missions?
Recruitment was conducted via social media platforms like Facebook and Telegram, targeting individuals with military experience and offering financial incentives for completed operations.