Defense Intelligence of Ukraine: Up to 15,000 Cubans Recruited by Russia to Fight in Ukraine

The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine has confirmed the identities of more than 1,000 Cuban nationals who signed contracts to serve in the Russian army.

Andrii Cherniak, a DIU representative, shared this information with Donbas.Realii, a project of Radio Free Europe/Radio Svoboda.

He also emphasized that the true number of Cubans fighting on the side of the occupying forces is likely much higher.

“…Overall, this number could be around 10,000 to 12,000, or even up to 15,000. It’s a relatively small number of people who were forced, either through deception or other means, to sign contracts,” Andrii Cherniak shared.

Ukraine’s intelligence believes that Russia views Cuba as part of its geopolitical sphere of interest, so recruiting Cubans is used more for propaganda purposes than for military ones.

“…They are trying to show that Russia is not an aggressor, and that other countries of the so-called civilized world also support Russia’s ideas and plans,” the representative of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine added.

In October 2025, the U.S. Department of State stated that between 1,000 and 5,000 Cubans were fighting on Russia’s side.

Cuba previously denied any involvement in the fighting, stating that it had uncovered an illegal scheme to recruit its citizens to take part in the war against Ukraine.

Meanwhile, journalists in February last year revealed the systematic involvement of Cuban nationals in the war on Russia’s side. They identified dozens of mercenaries, their routes, places of service, and motivations.

An investigation by Schemes discovered that Cuban nationals end up in the Russian army through deception, coercion, or in pursuit of money and ideological beliefs.

Some of them listed “tourism” as the purpose of their trip to Russia, but later found themselves in combat zones. They were promised a payment of about $2,000 per month for a year.

Journalists obtained documents confirming the service of Cubans in Russian military units, including Unit 29328 based in the Rostov region. They also spoke with a captured Cuban about how he ended up on the front line.