NewsCubans enticed to fight for Russia with promise of citizenship

Cubans enticed to fight for Russia with promise of citizenship

According to BBC findings, numerous Cubans have opted to join the Russian armed forces. This decision allows these foreigners to obtain a Russian passport. However, this mobilization also affects individuals who arrived in Russia seeking employment opportunities other than military service.

Russia is drafting foreigners into the army.

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MZUG

3:49 PM EDT, May 5, 2024

Not only Russians are fighting in the war

Hackers uncovered the data of at least 200 Cubans in September and October 2023. The BBC was able to confirm the authenticity of at least 31 accounts, which either resided in Russia or had ties to the Russian military, as reported by "Rzeczpospolita."

Further investigation by the BBC revealed social media posts suggesting that some Cubans could expect to receive Russian passports a few months after enlisting. This information aligns with local media reports, which hinted that citizenship would eventually be granted to these newly enlisted Cuban soldiers.

Additionally, it emerged that other Cubans, who had migrated to Russia in hopes of finding construction jobs, found themselves dispatched to the conflict zones in eastern Ukraine instead.

In September 2023, Cuba identified a network of human traffickers aiming to enlist individuals to fight for Russia. The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly denounced these operations.

Reports from October 2022 indicated that Moscow had begun sending mobilization notices to foreigners working within its borders, a trend that has seen little change since. Moreover, the recruitment drive has extended to prisoners, who are also sent to the front lines. Deutsche Welle (DW), a German broadcaster, reported in July 2022 that the recruitment of inmates from Russian penal colonies to fight in Ukraine had commenced.

The recruitment efforts predominantly target men from economically disadvantaged regions far from Moscow, especially in Asian territories like Tyva, near Mongolia's border, as analyzed by the Bank of Finland.