In a room far behind the front lines in central Ukraine, a Cuban man wearing Russian military fatigues smiles widely as he taps out a rhythm on a table. But his mood soon turns somber.
A Mercenary's Journey
Frank Dario Jarrosay Manfuga, 36, joined Russia's army in January 2024. By March, he was captured by Ukrainian forces, and now he is desperately hoping for a way out.
"I never intended to kill anyone. I never wanted to participate in a war. I have a family," said Manfuga, who claims he was deceived into boarding a flight to Russia with the promise of a construction job.
"Maybe some organization could save me," he added, making it clear that he has no desire to return to Russia or Cuba.
Manfuga's claim that he was tricked into military service has not been independently verified.
How Russia Recruits Cuban Fighters
A former geography teacher who turned to music to support his family, Manfuga is now a captured mercenary. His case is part of a larger trend of Russia recruiting foreign fighters to bolster its invasion of Ukraine.
According to Orlando Gutierrez-Boronat, co-founder of the Cuban Democratic Directorate, a U.S.-based NGO, "Based on passports obtained by Ukrainian hackers, information from Cuba, numerous videos, and reports of Cuban soldiers killed in combat, we estimate that around 5,000 Cuban soldiers are fighting for Russia." He added that this network could not function without Cuban government approval.
Social Media Evidence
Unlike North Korean fighters, Cuban mercenaries have left a significant social media footprint. Investigators from Schemes, an investigative unit of RFE/RL, used social media posts, satellite imagery, and training ground geolocation to identify hundreds of Cuban mercenaries.
One such case is Rafael, a Cuban fighter who appeared on Russia's military TV channel Zvezda. In an August 2024 segment, he was seen writing "Hasta la vista, baby" on military projectiles while praising Russian culture.
The Economic Appeal of Fighting for Russia
Grueling poverty in Cuba is a major factor driving Cubans to enlist in the Russian military. The country’s historical ties with Moscow allow Cubans to enter Russia without a visa, making recruitment easier.
A foreign mercenary serving under a one-year contract in the Russian army earns around $2,000 per month, a fortune compared to Cuban wages.
Cuba’s Stance and Russia’s Oil Trade
Despite Havana’s official denial of involvement, Russian oil shipments to Cuba suggest a strengthening of ties between the two nations. In 2024, over 1.8 million barrels of Russian oil were transported to Cuba, providing critical support during energy shortages and mass protests.
In a statement to Schemes, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said, "Cuba has clearly chosen Russia's side in the full-scale war due to its anti-American stance."
What Lies Ahead?
As more evidence emerges, questions remain about Cuba’s role in Russia’s recruitment efforts and the future of Cuban fighters caught in the conflict. For prisoners like Manfuga, the hope of escaping their predicament remains uncertain.
Read more investigative reports on RFE/RL.
Valeriya Yegoshyna
Valeriya Yegoshyna is a journalist for Schemes (Skhemy), an investigative news project run by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service. Yehoshyna is the 2024 winner of the ICFJ Knight International Journalism Award. She was recognized as one of the 'Top 30 Under 30' by the Kyiv Post in 2019 and has won a number of other awards, including the top prizes at the V. Serhienko Investigative Journalism Competition in 2017 and the Mezhyhirya Festival in 2018. An investigation she co-authored in 2023 about Izyum and the Russian invasion of Ukraine received a Special Certificate of Excellence at the Global Shining Light Awards from the Global Investigative Journalism Network.
Olya Ivleva
Olya Ivleva is a journalist from Odesa for Schemes (Skhemy), the investigative unit of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service. In 2023, she was a finalist in the National Competition of Journalistic Investigations.
Kyrylo Ovsyaniy
Kyrylo Ovsyaniy is an investigative journalist with Schemes (Skhemy), an investigative news project run by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service. Since 2021 he has worked on the Corruption In Detail program, after beginning in 2019 with a regional project. Born in Odesa, he has worked as a journalist there since 2018.
Kira Tolstyakova
Kira Tolstyakova is an editor for Schemes, the investigative unit of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service.
