20,000 Cuban mercenaries fight on Russia’s side against Ukraine_ This poses great threat to US

SUBSCRIBE TO US! Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne reports that intelligence data suggests that about 20,000 Cubans are fighting on the side of Russia in the war against Ukraine. The report was discussed during a US Congressional security briefing, which highlighted Cuba’s role in helping Russia both with fighters and in evading sanctions. Amid the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war, Moscow continues to suffer heavy losses in its military. Unwilling to announce a new wave of mobilization, the Kremlin is turning to contractors, including foreign nationals, to fill the gaps. Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate claims that Moscow’s intelligence services are traveling around the world to recruit foreign fighters. US Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, a Republican from Florida, held a virtual national security briefing with Ukrainian officials and US lawmakers. The focus was on the “alarming presence of thousands of Cuban regime soldiers fighting alongside Russia in the war against Ukraine” and the threat this poses to U.S. and regional security. Also in attendance were Florida representatives Maria Elvira Salazar and Carlos Jimenez, as well as Cuban opposition figures and Ukrainian officials, including presidential advisor on sanctions Vladislav Vlasyuk, intelligence official Andriy Yusov, and members of parliament Oleksandr Merezhko and Marian Zablotsky. According to Suspilny, a Ukrainian intelligence official told the meeting that Russia had recruited about 20,000 Cubans. About 1,000 had signed official contracts with Russia for 2023–2025. The average age of these mercenaries is 35. Ukrainian officials presented a list of 39 confirmed Cuban deaths, but stressed that this figure only reflected a fraction of the actual losses. Each Cuban fighter reportedly receives about $2,000 a month. Yusov noted that while the pay is small, it is a “powerful argument” for Cuba’s impoverished population. The briefing participants also highlighted how Russia continues to circumvent sanctions with the support of Cuba, China, Iran and North Korea. According to intelligence, critical microchips and other components are supplied to the Russian defense industry through these countries. Officials said that 60% of Russian artillery shells come from North Korea, while Iranian drones are used in large-scale strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure. Ukrainian intelligence has stressed that Cuban fighters form the second largest group of foreign mercenaries in Russia. The Crimean Society previously reported that Cuban mercenaries, along with recruits from African states and other Russian allies, are being trained in Russian-occupied Crimea before being deployed to fight against Ukraine. The Russian army has no shortage of human resources. Despite this, its special forces travel the world to recruit foreigners, according to the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine. They say,that some of them join private military campaigns, while others sign contracts with the Russian Armed Forces.