Cuba's foreign ministry has uncovered a network of human traffickers that has forced Cuban citizens to fight for Russia in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The Cuban government is actively working to dismantle this criminal organization, which has been active in both the Caribbean island nation and Russia.
Cuba Uncovers Human Trafficking Ring in Ukraine Conflict
On Monday, the Cuban Ministry of the Interior issued a statement illuminating a troubling situation. Although the information provided few specifics, it emphasized the insidious nature of the human trafficking ring that intends to incorporate Cuban citizens domiciled in Russia and Cuba into military operations in Ukraine.
The ministry asserted, "Cuba has a clear historical stance against mercenaries and plays an active role in the United Nations condemning this practice."
The Russian administration has not yet issued an official statement regarding these allegations. However, it is essential to note that this revelation follows a late May report from a Russian publication in the city of Ryazan.
According to the report, a number of Cuban nationals signed contracts with the Russian military and were subsequently sent to Ukraine in exchange for Russian citizenship. Although it is unclear whether the Cuban foreign ministry's statement is related to the Ryazan report, it highlights the gravity of the situation.
Before this, Russia had declared its ambitious plan to increase the size of its armed forces by more than 30 percent, aiming to reach 1.5 million combat personnel. However, this objective has become more difficult due to the unknown number of casualties suffered by Russian forces during the 18-month-long conflict in Ukraine.
Cuba's statement also disclosed that legal action had been taken against those pressuring its citizens to fight in Ukraine.
"Attempts of this nature have been neutralized, and criminal proceedings have been initiated against people involved in these activities," the statement declared, emphasizing Cuba's commitment to bringing the perpetrators to justice.
This startling revelation recalls previous instances in which Russia's Wagner mercenary force recruited individuals from war-torn regions to fight alongside its troops in Ukraine. Al Jazeera reported that thousands of Syrians expressed interest in joining the ranks after being recruited for this purpose last year.
Russia-Ukraine War Recruitment
In June, an Iraqi named Abbas Abuthar Witwit was tragically slain in Ukraine while fighting with the Wagner mercenary force of Russia. Witwit was recruited from a Russian prison with the false assurance that his sentence would be commuted upon completing his service in Ukraine.
According to court documents, in July 2021, a court in the Russian city of Kazan sentenced him to four-and-a-half years in prison on drug allegations. Witwit was a first-year student at a technical university in Russia at the time of his conviction.
The discovery of a human trafficking network involving Cuban nationals is a grave matter that raises concerns about the recruitment methods employed by some Ukrainian armed organizations.
Cuba's dedication to combating this practice and pursuing justice for its citizens highlights the significance of international cooperation in addressing human trafficking and mercenaries in conflict zones. The international community will closely observe the Cuban government's efforts to dismantle this network and bring those guilty to justice.
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