The Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to leave a trail of blood, and the death of Cuban citizen Mario Alberto Céspedes Pérez is no exception. Despite his connection to the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), where he was trained to repress his fellow citizens, his demise is still tragic.
According to Cubanet, Céspedes died on May 14. The news was first reported by an ex-girlfriend of his brother and later confirmed by "a person claiming to be a lawyer who showed a photo of the deceased from four days prior, with the body kept in a preservation chamber."
The mercenary, who was serving the Eurasian nation's forces, had fallen on hard times a year ago as a destitute immigrant in Moscow. Previously, he worked at the Municipal Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in Puerto Padre, Las Tunas. He left behind three children on Alejo Tomás Street, corner of Juan Gualberto Gómez.
An official tasked with relaying the news asked Céspedes' eldest daughter, Heidi (19 years old), and his mother, Olga, to have their passports ready to travel to Russia. They needed to retrieve the deceased's belongings and collect the compensation due to them under Vladimir Putin's government legislation.
Céspedes is among the Cubans recruited to join Russia's invasion of Ukraine in exchange for money and citizenship. This fact came to light about a year ago, although the Revolutionary Armed Forces and MININT denied any involvement of their trained personnel in the conflict.
Following initial reports confirming the presence of Cuban mercenaries hired by the Russian military, Havana remained silent until September. At that time, the regime issued a statement claiming to have dismantled a human trafficking network recruiting young Cubans. The network involved 17 individuals whose operations reportedly continued even after their arrest. On the TV program "Razones de Cuba," hosted by notable regime spokesperson Humberto López, the official version of the alleged investigation conducted by MININT was presented.
"As a result of the investigations carried out by the organs of the Ministry of the Interior regarding these events, 17 people have been detained so far, one of whom is the internal organizer of these activities, supported by two other residents in the country," said Colonel César Rodríguez Rodríguez.
According to the head of the Criminal Investigation Department at MININT, these two detained assistants were responsible for recruiting and contacting Cubans interested in traveling to Russia as mercenaries.
"Once recruited, these individuals met with the organizer, who sent their details to Russia, which then sent them tickets free of charge for their migration," said Lieutenant Colonel Frank Hernández Estrada, head of the Specialized Department of the DGI Criminal at MININT.
The official Cubadebate portal reported that 14 other people confessed to voluntarily joining the operation in exchange for Russian residency and financial compensation.
Details on Cuban Mercenaries in Russia-Ukraine Conflict
The following questions and answers provide further insight into the involvement of Cuban citizens in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Why was Mario Alberto Céspedes Pérez in Russia?
Mario Alberto Céspedes Pérez was recruited to participate in Russia's invasion of Ukraine in exchange for money and citizenship.
What did the Cuban Ministry of the Interior say about the recruitment of mercenaries?
The Cuban Ministry of the Interior denied any involvement of their trained personnel in the conflict and claimed to have dismantled a human trafficking network recruiting young Cubans.
How did the Cuban government respond to initial reports about Cuban mercenaries?
The Cuban government remained silent until September when it issued a statement claiming to have neutralized a human trafficking network that recruited young Cubans for the conflict.