Cuba today strongly denied that it is participating in the armed conflict in Ukraine, a categorical rejection of slanderous accusations that the United States government has been spreading.
Below is the verbatim statement from the Cuban Foreign Ministry (MINREX)
Statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Government of the Republic of Cuba rejects the false accusations that the United States government is spreading about Cuba’s alleged involvement in the military conflict in Ukraine. This slanderous accusation began in 2023 by some media outlets, without providing any evidence or basis, and clearly fulfilling a mandated service.
The Cuban government categorically confirms that Cuba is not a party to the armed conflict in Ukraine, nor is it participating with military personnel there or in any other country.
Our authorities do not have precise information about Cuban nationals who, on their own, have participated or are participating in the military forces of either side of the conflict. What is irrefutable is that none of them have the encouragement, commitment or consent of the Cuban State for their actions.
The Cuban government, in accordance with its national legislation and international obligations, has a zero-tolerance policy for mercenarism, human trafficking, and the participation of its nationals in any armed confrontation in another country, all of which constitute crimes with very severe penalties under the national legal system.
As stated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 4, 2023, upon detecting the presence of Cubans in the conflict in Ukraine, recruitment within the national territory was neutralized and criminal proceedings were initiated to that end.
Between 2023 and 2025, nine criminal cases have been filed in Cuban courts for the crime of mercenarism, against 40 defendants. Trials have been held in eight cases, five of which resulted in convictions against 26 defendants, with sentences ranging from 5 to 14 years of imprisonment. Three cases are pending a court ruling, and one case is pending trial.
The Cubans participating in both sides of the armed conflict have been recruited through organizations that do not reside in our country and have no ties to the Cuban government. The vast majority of this recruitment is carried out from abroad among nationals residing or temporarily staying in various countries, just as the recruitment of a multitude of nationalities for this conflict is carried out, according to figures that are also imprecise.
The United States government has not provided, nor can it provide, any evidence to support the unfounded and false accusations of its new defamatory campaign against Cuba.
Havana, October 11, 2025
