Cuba says groups recruiting Cubans for Russia had no ties to its government

Ukraine delegation reports more than 1,000 Cubans signed Russian military contracts

Cuba’s Foreign Ministry rejected the U.S. accusations on Wednesday in a social-media statement, saying the country “is not a party to this conflict, nor does it have military personnel involved there or in any other country.” The post was dated Oct. 21, 2026.

The ministry said Cuban citizens fighting in Ukraine were recruited abroad by organizations with no ties to Cuban government institutions. It characterized Washington’s allegations as a coordinated disinformation campaign intended to mislead and manipulate international public opinion about the principles guiding Cuban foreign policy.

Cuba pointed to domestic investigations and criminal prosecutions targeting international human-trafficking networks involved in military recruitment as evidence of its position. The country reiterated its “zero tolerance” policy toward mercenary activity. Prosecutors and courts investigated 17 cases involving the offense since 2023, resulting in charges against 49 people, and the ministry said the vast majority had already received prison sentences.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz made the U.S. accusation during events this week in New York. Waltz accused Cuba’s government of complicity in Russia’s war in Ukraine and contended that Havana actively backs Russia’s invasion. He also accused Cuban authorities of allowing mercenaries from the island to fight in Ukraine as “cannon fodder” for Moscow. Waltz criticized European delegations for supporting Cuba’s opposition to the U.S. economic embargo.

Ukraine’s delegation presented a separate account at the United Nations this week, accusing Russia of recruiting large numbers of Cuban citizens for military service. According to the delegation, more than 1,000 Cubans signed contracts with the Russian military between 2023 and 2025. It described Cuban nationals as one of the four largest groups of foreign recruits serving in Russian forces.

Cuba’s government also reaffirmed support for a peaceful, diplomatic and negotiated resolution of the war in Ukraine through constructive dialogue among the parties involved.

The exchange came ahead of the U.N. General Assembly’s annual debate on Tuesday and Wednesday, when member states were scheduled to vote on a nonbinding resolution calling for an end to the U.S. economic embargo of Cuba.

At a news conference in Havana on Wednesday, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla accused the United States of a campaign of “extreme and unprecedented pressure” and political blackmail against several U.N. member states.

According to Havana, Washington has used coercive measures, including threats of tariffs, visa restrictions on diplomats and the cancellation of international cooperation programs, to pressure countries into changing their votes or withdrawing their longstanding support for Cuba’s resolution.