Ukraine Identifies 39 Cuban Casualties in Conflict With Russia

Ukraine released the names of 39 Cubans who died serving in the Russian military, coinciding with Moscow’s major Victory Day parade. The names were published by the Telegram channel “Quiero vivir,” which aims to expose the realities of foreign soldiers in the conflict. While identifying these casualties, the report also raises questions about accountability for such losses among global leaders.

On May 8, 2025, a Ukrainian government Telegram channel known as “Quiero vivir” published the names of 39 Cubans who lost their lives while serving in the Russian military. This release was strategically timed just one day ahead of Moscow’s Victory Day parade celebrating the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s surrender. The timing drew attention as the parade included not only Russian officials but heads of state from multiple countries, including Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel.

The Telegram channel has actively been providing information about foreign soldiers who have died in the conflict. Along with those from Cuba, the list included soldiers from Syria, Belarus, and other nations. This awareness-raising effort aims to hold leaders accountable for recruiting citizens into this war and subsequently neglecting their fates. “Do the leaders of these countries have the courage to remind Putin?” the channel posed in a statement, reflecting an ongoing concern regarding transparency and accountability.

“Quiero vivir” has now identified over 600 casualties from the list of nations mentioned, although it’s crucial to note that this count does not represent the complete number of foreign fighters killed in the invasion. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense itself struggles to maintain accurate records. From April 1 to May 2025, the channel disclosed the names of 5,204 foreign mercenaries, with Cubans making up a significant portion of that number—specifically 1,028 individuals.

Notably, the losses are not confined to countries aligned with Russia’s geopolitical agenda; nations like Sri Lanka are also reportedly experiencing substantial casualties. Some names from the published list have been independently verified by elTOQUE, a news outlet that confirmed the details of several fallen soldiers. Notable mentions include Raibel Palacio Herrera, who died in January 2024, and young boxer Yansiel Morejón Díaz, who was killed in December 2023.

The list, while offering insight, is not comprehensive. Investigative efforts suggest there are additional Cuban fatalities that have remained unreported by “Quiero vivir,” including cases where families opted not to disclose the information publicly. Furthermore, recent reports from elTOQUE’s audience indicate there are Cuban soldiers who are currently missing in action.

As reported, the ages of the deceased soldiers varied widely, with the oldest being Reinerio Robles at 62 years and the youngest, Juan Raúl Pedroso, who was just 23 when he perished in June 2024. Included in this coverage is a full account of the confirmed deaths, although elTOQUE could not independently verify every single detail presented. Thus, readers are advised that this has been translated from third-party compiled information.

The published names are as follows:
1. Alexei Aldana Aguilar
2. Raúl Alemán Morales
3. Maikel José Baró García
4. Alfredo Borrero Leyva
5. Alexander S. Bykov
6. Iván Guy Camacho
7. Reinerio Roble Valencia
8. Yismel Dieguez Reyes
9. Reinaldo Izaguirre Cruz
10. Luis Antonio Cabrera Pérez
11. Osmani López Martínez
12. Alejandro López Tamayo
13. Maikel Márquez Llopis
14. Lázaro Rafael Martínez Sánchez
15. Eduardo Montero Martínez
16. Lester Pichardo Mora
17. Yansiel Morejón Díaz
18. Andy Olano Montano
19. Pedro Antonio Ortiz García
20. Camilo Antonio Ochoa de Moreno
21. Raibel Palacio Herrera
22. Juan Raúl Pedroso Barrios
23. Lázaro Aramis Pérez Rodríguez
24. Yoel Alcides Pérez Santiesteban
25. Andruy Pérez Pérez
26. Reumberto Placencia Reyes
27. Isaac Reyes Hinojosa
28. Luis Ángel Rodríguez López
29. Enandis Rodríguez de Los Santos
30. Ismael Sáez Gómez
31. Mario Alberto Céspedes Pérez
32. Ángel Luis Soneira López
33. Lázaro Zúñiga Hernández
34. Barbaro Alberto Tito De la Cruz
35. Jorge Luis Toppe Suárez
36. Jorge Francisco Justo Núñez
37. Cyron Chamiso Franco
38. César Orestes Echavarría Díaz
39. Reinier Pérez Díaz

The ongoing conflict has highlighted a troubling reality regarding foreign soldiers involved in warfare not of their own doing, raising alarming questions about international accountability and loss.

The publication of the names of 39 Cubans killed while fighting for Russia adds a complex dimension to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The timing of this announcement is significant, coming before a major Russian celebration, and serves as a call for foreign leaders to confront the realities faced by their citizens in this war. With names continuing to emerge, scrutiny of international accountability remains at the forefront of this humanitarian issue.

Original Source: havanatimes.org