Hacked Files Expose Russia’s Efforts to Enlist Cuban Fighters for Ukraine Invasion

In a startling revelation, hacked documents have unveiled Russia’s clandestine efforts to recruit Cuban mercenaries for its military operations in Ukraine.

These leaked documents, obtained by the activist hackers known as the “Cyber Resistance” and affiliated with the Ukrainian government, offer a rare glimpse into the inner workings of Russia’s recruitment pipeline for foreign fighters.

The intercepted emails belonged to a Russian officer based in the Western Military District, responsible for recruiting Cubans.

The trove of stolen data includes approximately 122 passport scans and images of Cuban nationals, all of them men of fighting age.

Moreover, it contains Spanish-language enlistment contracts with a section of the Russian Armed Forces situated in Tula, known for its military school and airborne troops.

These contracts outline the incentives Russia offers to foreign fighters.

The promised rewards include a “one-time cash payment in the amount of 195,000 rubles” (roughly $2,000) upon signing up for service in the “special military operation” in Ukraine.

Additionally, recruits can expect monthly payments starting at “204,000 rubles per month” (just over $2,000), depending on their rank, along with various benefits for spouses and family members.

While similar contracts for foreign nationals have been reported regionally, such as those targeting ethnic Russian men in former Soviet republics, this leak provides concrete evidence of these incentives.

The hacked documents contain images showing single passports accompanied by entry cards into Russia, revealing that a group of at least five Cuban men entered Russia through Belarus, a key Kremlin ally.

This entry aligns with earlier public commitments from Belarus to train Cuban troops on its soil.

While the documents lack signed enlistment contracts for the Cubans, some of them can be identified through Facebook profiles.

Astonishingly, these individuals openly shared their journeys to Russia, posting pictures in various locations around the Tula region.

One Cuban even documented his transition from Santiago de Cuba to Russia and posted videos with a new Russian passport while standing beside Russian tanks adorned with the iconic “Z” symbol.

In a more recent development, three of the Cubans from the hacked data were seen in a Facebook story, smiling together.

One of them sported the striped telnyashka undershirt worn by Russian airborne soldiers, further suggesting their affiliation with the troops stationed in Tula.

The aunt of another Cuban posted a birthday photo that matched his passport date of birth and hinted at his involvement in “fighting in Ukraine.”

The leaked emails reveal extensive communications between the Russian officer and military accounts, as well as translators who processed the Cuban passports.

Furthermore, an Excel spreadsheet was found, listing nearly a hundred recruitment contacts across four of the five official Russian military districts.

Remarkably, the hacked Russian officer, Major Anton Valentinovich Perevozchikov, did not deny his role in recruiting the Cubans but responded with a vehement declaration of Russia’s victory and disdain for NATO.

According to a senior officer in the Ukrainian Armed Forces familiar with the hacked materials, the Cuban citizens’ involvement indicates Russia’s ongoing efforts to attract volunteers rather than resorting to mandatory mobilization.

At the onset of the full-scale war in 2022, Ukraine observed limited numbers of foreign volunteers who were willing to risk their lives under ineffective Russian leadership.

The recruitment of Cubans may be aimed at bolstering the perception of international support for Russia while also considering economic factors.

While the international community has been aware of Ukraine’s International Legion, comprising NATO veterans and global volunteers, Russia’s use of foreign fighters has been shrouded in secrecy.

Reports of Syrian mercenaries and Iranian operatives in Ukraine have surfaced, along with rumors of Central African Republic soldiers fighting on behalf of Moscow.

In response to these revelations, the Cuban government issued a statement regarding a criminal “human trafficking network” discovered ferrying its citizens to participate in the Russian war effort.

They firmly denied any involvement and emphasized their historical opposition to mercenary activities, as recognized by the United Nations.

The extent of Havana’s statement’s connection to the hacked documents or reports of Cuban migrants forcibly joining Russia’s military remains unclear.

Requests for comment from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on this recruitment channel for Cuban mercenaries in Ukraine have gone unanswered.

While Russian media previously reported Cuban immigrants already residing in Russia joining the war effort, the hacked emails indicate that this particular group of men was recruited into Russia this year.

The resurgence of Russia and Cuba’s strategic alliance, which dates back to the Cold War, raises questions about the geopolitical dynamics in the ongoing conflict.

As the war in Ukraine continues to evolve, these rekindled historical alliances have a real potential for reshaping an already shaky global landscape.

Read the original story here:
The Intercept