Cuba and Colombia have become the primary recruitment centers for Russia's military forces in Latin America, according to a new investigative study that reveals Moscow's expanding reach into the Western Hemisphere as it struggles to sustain manpower for its war in Ukraine.
The research, conducted by the Madrid-based analytics firm Equilíbrium and published Tuesday, documents organized recruitment networks operating in both countries that promise Latin American men lucrative salaries and Russian citizenship in exchange for military service—offers that frequently omit the likelihood of frontline deployment in Ukraine.
"This has all the hallmarks of human trafficking," said Cristina González, a senior researcher at Equilíbrium who led the investigation. "Recruiters target economically desperate men, make false promises about non-combat roles, and then send them into a meat grinder."
In Cuba, recruitment operates through both official channels and shadowy networks with apparent state acquiescence. Young Cuban men, facing economic collapse exacerbated by US sanctions and government mismanagement, have been lured by promises of $2,000 monthly salaries—a fortune compared to average Cuban wages of approximately $20 per month. Hundreds have already deployed to Russia, according to testimonies collected by human rights organizations.
The Cuban government publicly denied involvement in recruitment when reports first emerged in 2024, claiming it was investigating "human trafficking networks." But leaked documents and witness statements suggest official complicity, with military officials facilitating travel arrangements and processing paperwork for recruits.
"The Cuban state is desperate for hard currency," said Michael Shifter, former president of the Inter-American Dialogue. "If is paying for bodies, will find ways to supply them while maintaining deniability."
