More Than 1,000 Cubans Have Reportedly Been Tricked Into Fighting For Russia In Ukraine

<div><img src="https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/68f10b351600000329483e85.jpeg?ops=scalefit_630_noupscale" alt="In this photo taken on Oct.13, 2025 and provided by Ukraine's 24th Mechanized Brigade press service, smoke raises amid the ruins in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk." data-caption="In this photo taken on Oct.13, 2025 and provided by Ukraine's 24th Mechanized Brigade press service, smoke raises amid the ruins in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk." data-credit-link-back="" data-credit="via Associated Press" />In this photo taken on Oct.13, 2025 and provided by Ukraine's 24th Mechanized Brigade press service, smoke raises amid the ruins in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk.</div><div class="content-list-component text"><p>More than 1,000 Cubans have been tricked into fighting for Russia in the <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/ukraine/">Ukraine</a> war, it has been reported.</p><p><a href="https://kyivindependent.com/exclusive-1-076-cubans-identified-fighting-for-russia-ukraine-says-96-dead-or-disappeared/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Kyiv Independent</a> said Ukranian military intelligence (HUR) revealed that 96 of the foreign fighters had either been killed or gone missing in action.</p><p>The reports back up an unclassified cable released by America which said that an “estimated 1,000 to 5,000 Cubans (are) fighting in Ukraine”.</p><p>According to HUR, Cuban nationals are tricked into travelling to Russia by the promise of lucrative construction work advertised on Facebook, YouTube and TikTok.</p><p>“After arriving in the Russian Federation, recruits are offered contracts for military service drawn up in Russian without translation instead of employment contracts,” HUR said.</p><p>The Cuban nationals reportedly receive two week