Kyiv Reports 20,000 Cuban Mercenaries Fighting for Russia in Ukraine Conflict

Ukraine's military intelligence has revealed that Russia has recruited at least 20,000 Cuban citizens as mercenaries to fight in the war against Ukraine. These Cuban fighters, both men and women with an average age of 35, are drawn by salaries of around $2,000 per month, a significant amount given Cuba's economic hardships, but many are reportedly held against their will after contract expiration. The recruitment of Cubans is part of a broader strategy by Russia, which also includes enlisting mercenaries from Middle Eastern countries such as Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan, sometimes even former ISIS militants, motivated by personnel shortages in the Russian military. These foreign mercenaries often serve in high-risk units with high mortality rates, with many dying within four to five months of combat or surrendering during their first mission. Ukrainian intelligence officials have presented this information to US lawmakers, highlighting that Cuba tops the list of countries supplying mercenaries to Russia. The recruitment of foreign fighters under such conditions reflects Russia's increasing reliance on mercenaries as the conflict extends.