Cuba has uncovered a human-trafficking ring that has forced its citizens to fight for Russia in the war in Ukraine, its foreign ministry said on Monday, adding that Cuban authorities were working to “neutralize and dismantle” the network.
A statement from Cuba’s foreign ministry gave few details but said the trafficking ring operated both in the Caribbean island nation, thousands of miles from Moscow, and in Russia.
“The Ministry of Interior… is working on the neutralization and dismantling of the human trafficking network operating from Russia to incorporate Cubans living there, even some from Cuba, into military forces participating in war operations in Ukraine,” he said. a government statement said.
The Russian government has not commented on the allegations.
Russia last year announced plans to increase the size of its armed forces by more than 30% to 1.5 million combat personnel, a lofty goal made more difficult by the war’s heavy but undisclosed toll.
Cuba has uncovered a human trafficking ring that has forced its citizens to fight for Russia in the war in Ukraine, its foreign ministry said Monday.AP
Cuba’s foreign ministry gave few details but said the trafficking ring operated in both the Caribbean island nation and in Russia. AP
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (R) and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez shake hands during a meeting in April 2023. POOL/AFP via Getty Images
At the end of May, a Russian newspaper in Ryazan City reported that some Cubans had signed contracts with the Russian armed forces and had been sent to Ukraine in exchange for Russian citizenship.
It is unclear whether the Cuban foreign ministry statement is linked to the Ryazan report.
But the Cuban government says it has already begun prosecuting cases where its citizens have been forced to fight in Ukraine.
“This kind of attempt has been neutralized and criminal proceedings have been initiated against the people involved in this activity,” said Monday’s statement.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
