Cubans continue fighting in war against Ukraine for generous payments and Russian citizenship – Bloomberg

Cuban citizens continue to travel to Russia to join the fight against Ukraine, despite the government's efforts to stop the Russian recruitment.

Source: Bloomberg citing an anonymous source familiar with the matter

Quote: "Volunteers are signing up through informal channels and the total number involved in the fighting is likely in the low hundreds, though exact details are hard to establish."

Details: The Russian military uses generous rewards to recruit impoverished Cubans as the country struggles with energy blackouts and food shortages in an economic crisis that has sparked widespread migration and street protests.

Some are also drawn to the chance of receiving Russian citizenship, after Vladimir Putin's January directive allowing foreigners to seek citizenship in exchange for military service.

The Russian Defence Ministry did not respond to Bloomberg’s request for comment, same as did officials from the Cuban embassy in Washington and the Foreign Ministry in Havan.

According to the news agency, Russia has increased recruitment at home and abroad in an effort to replace the large number of soldiers killed or injured in Ukraine.

Western estimates place Russia's losses since the invasion began in February 2022 at 500,000. The UK Ministry of Defence stated on 12 July that Russia may have lost 70,000 killed and wounded in the last two months.

Background: 

• Russia is recruiting nationals from different countries into the war in Ukraine, including the poorest states.
• Russia recruited about 15,000 Nepali citizens for the war against Ukraine, CNN and Nepali opposition lawmaker and former foreign minister Bimala Rai Paudyal reported.
• Indian publications, citing sources, reported in July that Russia decided to dismiss all Indians recruited by Russia for the war in Ukraine after a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin.

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