The BBC investigation revealed that Russia has been coercing Cuban citizens into joining the Russian Armed Forces by offering them salaries of approximately $2,000 per month, as well as the promise of Russian passports within months of signing up. Hundreds of Cubans are said to have joined Russia’s Armed Forces since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, with leaked documents confirming at least 31 accounts of Cuban citizens supposedly linked to the Russian army. Some Cubans who had moved to Russia in search of work in the construction industry were reportedly sent to fight on Ukraine’s eastern front instead. These recruitment efforts by Russia have extended to other countries, targeting foreign recruits from places like Nepal, Cuba, Uzbekistan, and Somalia, among others.
Russia’s campaign to recruit foreigners for its war against Ukraine has sparked concerns of human trafficking, with reports of foreigners being lured into fighting in exchange for promises of high salaries and Russian citizenship. In January, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree allowing foreign nationals who join the Russian Armed Forces to apply for Russian citizenship, further incentivizing recruitment efforts. Cuba and Russia, long-standing allies dating back to the Cold War era, have reciprocal visa-free travel arrangements and direct flights between Havana and Moscow, facilitating the movement of Cuban citizens to Russia for various purposes, including military recruitment. Cuba’s Foreign Affairs Ministry has publicly rejected the involvement of its citizens in the recruitment efforts by Russia.
The case of Adil Muhammad, a Somali individual captured while fighting with the Russian army in Ukraine, sheds light on the experiences of foreign fighters lured into the conflict. Muhammad, along with other prisoners of war, shared his story during a press conference in Ukraine, revealing his capture near Marinka in Donetsk Oblast while fighting with the Russian army. The allure of financial incentives and promises of a better life in Russia led Muhammad and others to join the conflict, only to find themselves as pawns in a war that they may not have fully understood. This exploitation of vulnerable individuals from across the globe underscores the unethical and potentially illegal recruitment tactics employed by Russia in its war against Ukraine.
The recruitment of foreign fighters by Russia raises questions about the ethics and legality of such practices, particularly when vulnerable individuals are coerced or deceived into joining conflicts in exchange for financial rewards and promises of citizenship. The involvement of Cuban citizens in the Russian Armed Forces, as revealed by leaked documents, highlights the global reach of Russia’s recruitment efforts and the exploitation of individuals from various countries for its military objectives. The international community must condemn and counter such recruitment tactics, which not only violate human rights but also undermine global security and stability. By supporting independent journalism and raising awareness of these issues, individuals can contribute to the fight against these exploitative practices and hold accountable those responsible for recruiting foreign fighters.
