Cuba uncovers large network that recruited Cubans to participate in the war against Ukraine

The Cuban authorities have reported the disclosure of a criminal network for human trafficking, whose members forced Cuban citizens to fight on the side of Russia against Ukraine.

Source. This was reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, cited by the BBC.

"The Ministry of the Interior has identified and is working to neutralize and eliminate a human trafficking network operating in Russia to recruit Cuban citizens living there, and even some living in Cuba, to join the armed forces participating in military operations in Ukraine. Such attempts were neutralized, and criminal cases were instituted against those involved in these activities," the statement said.

The ministry also noted that "Cuba's enemies are trying to tarnish the country's image and show it as an accomplice in actions that we strongly reject."

"Cuba has a firm and clear historical position against mercenarism and has played an active role in the UN in condemning this practice," the ministry said in a statement. It has and will continue to act decisively against those who engage in any form of human trafficking to recruit mercenaries to use weapons against any country by Cuban citizens."

Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said in his Twitter post: "We are acting against these attempts with the force of the law."

Background. Last year, it became known that the Russian government, through the Wagner PMC, was recruiting Syrians to fight as part of Russian troops in Ukraine.