Russia continues to recruit Cubans to fight in Ukraine despite opposition from Havana — Bloomberg

Volunteers are enlisting through unofficial channels, and the total number of combatants is likely to be in the hundreds, although exact details are difficult to ascertain, the source said.

Generous payments offered by the Russian military attract impoverished Cubans. Some are also interested in the prospect of obtaining a Russian passport after Russian dictator Vladimir Putin signed a decree in January allowing foreigners to receive citizenship in exchange for military service.

Cuban officials are sending conflicting signals about the war in Ukraine. Hours after Cuba's ambassador to Moscow said in September that the government had no objection to Cuban citizens joining the Russian military, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said Havana's "unequivocal" position was against participation.

After 17 people were arrested in September in connection with an alleged human-trafficking ring that lured Cubans to fight for Russia, the Foreign Office said that "Cuba is not part of the conflict in Ukraine" and would act "resolutely" to stop any recruitment campaigns.