STORY: “I knew the contract was actual once I arrived right here. The Russian Federation introduced me right here. Everybody right here knew what they had been coming for. I do know it for certain.”
Former bricklayer Enrique Gonzalez is one among many Cubans who say they had been recruited by Russia to combat within the conflict in Ukraine.
On a video name to his spouse, Yamidely Cervantes, he movies the coaching camp he now works from close to Tula, a number of hours south of Moscow.
Reuters spoke to Cervantes at their house within the small city of La Federal in Cuba.
She says Gonzalez’s choice to combat for Russia was a monetary one.
Simply days after he left, Cervantes obtained a part of his $2,040 signing-on bonus.
She has since been in a position to purchase much-needed necessities – all on Russia’s dime.
“I’m going to say that necessity is what’s driving this. If we weren’t a lot in want, I’m certain these males wouldn’t have gone. So, you’re employed, and work, and work…. my husband labored alone with none help as a result of he used to say, I work in bricklaying alone as a result of I might relatively provide the cash that I might give to somebody to get assist and to inform him what to do. He labored very arduous. At some point, he stated: I can’t bear this anymore. I requested: what occurred? He stated: no worries, I do know what I’ll do, however I can’t bear this anymore.”
Russia did not instantly reply to queries about Cubans being recruited for his or her army.
The Cuban authorities did not reply to queries for this story both.
The Caribbean island is economically stricken and communist-run.
Nationwide knowledge exhibits the sign-on bonus Gonzalez obtained is over 100 occasions the common month-to-month state wage in Cuba of simply $17.
Few locations really feel the pinch greater than La Federal, which is simply outdoors of the capital, Havana. 2022 knowledge says one in 4 of its 800 residents are unemployed.
On the brief filth highway the place Cervantes lives, no less than three males have left for Russia since phrase of the military work started to unfold in June.
“A number of had been recruited. As a result of you may rely on one hand those that are left.”
Reuters traced the tales of these males, and people of greater than a dozen others from districts in and round Havana.
They arrive from all completely different walks of life. One is a shopkeeper, one other a refinery employee.
The interviews with most of the males and their family members, in addition to a trove of WhatsApp messages, journey papers, photographs and telephone numbers, paint essentially the most detailed image but of how Cubans are flocking to again Moscow’s conflict machine.
23-year-old Yoan Viondi stated he knew about dozens of males in Villa Maria, the district that features La Federal, that had been recruited for the Russian conflict effort since June.
He confirmed Reuters WhatsApp messages with somebody known as “Dayana”, who he says is a Russian recruiter.
Viondi stored in contact with a number of associates who had signed contracts with the Russian military.
So far as he knew, “they had been high quality”. Most, he stated, had been now in Ukraine.
“…right here, it’s a must to work arduous to get issues completed, and also you face 25,000 limitations right here. For that reason, everyone stated: I select this in order that I don’t die of starvation in Cuba. They completely knew the place they had been going. I completely knew the place I used to be going too.”
Regardless of his preliminary enthusiasm, Viondi turned anxious about going to Russia and lower contact with the recruiter.
However “Dayana” was talked about as a key contact by most people Reuters spoke with.
All 9 recruits recognized by Reuters signed as much as combat within the conflict.
Reuters was unable to succeed in “Dayana” for remark, and could not affirm her full identify.
Information of Cubans ending up within the Russian army emerged in September when the federal government – a longstanding ally of Russia – stated it had arrested 17 individuals linked to a human-trafficking ring that lured Cubans to combat for Moscow.
Reuters couldn’t set up the identities of these concerned within the alleged trafficking ring, or when and whether or not they had been arrested.
Cuba has despatched combined messages about its residents preventing for Russia.
In early September, it stated it was unlawful for its residents to combat for a international military, punishable by life in jail.
Days later, although, Cuba’s ambassador in Moscow stated Havana did not oppose Cubans “who simply wish to signal a contract and legally participate with the Russian military on this operation.”
Cuba has since reiterated that residents had been prohibited from preventing as conflict mercenaries.