Cuba has firmly denied allegations by the United States that it is participating in the Russia-Ukraine conflict or has sent soldiers to the war zone. In a statement issued by the Cuban Foreign Ministry, Havana dismissed the accusations as “false” and reaffirmed that the Cuban government has no role in the conflict.
The ministry clarified that 26 Cuban nationals have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from five to 14 years for engaging in mercenary activities since September 2023. Authorities stressed that these individuals acted independently and without the consent or support of the Cuban state.
The U.S. had earlier claimed that Cuban nationals were fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s “I Want to Live” project asserted it possessed information on over 1,000 Cubans who allegedly signed contracts with the Russian military between 2023 and 2024.
Cuba reiterated that any involvement of its citizens in the war was unauthorized and condemned attempts to exploit its nationals through deceptive recruitment on social media. The government reaffirmed its stance of neutrality and opposition to the use of mercenaries in foreign conflicts.