Cuba Arrests 17 People It Accuses of Recruiting for Russia’s War in Ukraine

Cuba has arrested 17 individuals in reference to what its authorities says is a community recruiting its residents to battle in Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, in response to a Cuban authorities official.

The head of Cuba’s prison investigation division, César Rodriguez, mentioned late Thursday on Canal Caribe, a state-run news channel, that one of many individuals arrested was liable for organizing efforts to recruit inside Cuba.

This week, Cuba’s Foreign Ministry mentioned in a press release that the federal government had begun prison proceedings in opposition to a “human trafficking network” that was recruiting individuals to battle in Ukraine. The ministry has not mentioned how many individuals have been affected, or whether or not any had traveled to Russia or Ukraine.

The accusations haven’t been independently verified. Russia has not commented on the problem.

None of the individuals arrested have been named. The recruiters have been in search of Cuban residents curious about navy motion, particularly these with “antisocial behavior” and a prison document, Mr. Rodriguez mentioned.

Cuba is “not part of the war in Ukraine,” the overseas ministry’s assertion mentioned.

Cuba has been a detailed ally of Russia because the Cuban Revolution in 1959. The nation’s president, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia have pledged to strengthen their international locations’ relationship.

U.S. officers have mentioned that Russia has struggled to draw recruits for its conflict effort. Russia’s protection minister, Sergei Ok. Shoigu, mentioned late final yr that the Russian Army wanted to extend from 1.15 million service members to 1.5 million.

The occasions being investigated might represent a criminal offense of mercenarism, José Luis Reyes, the top of Cuba’s prison prosecution division, mentioned on the tv program, including that punishment might embrace 30 years to life in jail or the demise penalty.

Valeriya Safronova contributed reporting.