Ukraine Unveils Identity of 39 Cuban Soldiers Who Died Fighting for Russia

Ukraine has released the names of 39 Cuban nationals killed while serving in the Russian military. This announcement coincided with Moscow’s Victory Day parade, highlighting the involvement of foreign soldiers in the conflict. The organization Quiero vivir has identified numerous fatalities, but the complete number remains uncertain as independent verification continues.

In a significant move, the Ukrainian government revealed the identities of 39 Cuban nationals who lost their lives fighting for Russia. This announcement, made on May 8, 2025, via a Telegram channel named Quiero vivir, coincided with the day before Moscow’s Victory Day parade, commemorating the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s surrender.

The list published by Quiero vivir, which translates to “I Want to Live,” includes foreign soldiers verified to have died in combat. The report highlights not only Cubans but also soldiers from countries like Syria, Belarus, and Tajikistan, representative of the nationalities of several heads of state attending the parade. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel was among them, accompanied by his spouse, Lis Cuesta.

Quiero vivir posed critical questions to the leaders of these nations, challenging their responsibility towards their citizens fighting for Russia. “Do the leaders of these countries have the courage to remind Putin that he recruits their citizens with impunity for his war, then forgets them as soon as they die or are captured?” they questioned.

The organization, backed by state resources, actively tracks information regarding prisoners of war and military casualties. So far, Quiero vivir has identified over 600 fatalities from various countries; however, this is far from an exhaustive count, as even Ukrainian officials struggle to compile accurate data on foreign combatant losses.

From April 2021 to May 2025, a staggering 5,204 foreign mercenaries were listed, with 1,028 identified as Cuban – making up nearly 20% of the total. Some of these losses come from unexpected places, illustrating the widespread impact of the conflict.

Regional news outlet elTOQUE verified some of the names on the leaked list. For instance, the tragic death of Raibel Palacio Herrera was confirmed to occur on January 12, 2024. Additionally, they identified young boxer Yansiel Morejón Díaz, who passed away on December 28, 2023. Cross-referencing information also revealed the inclusion of Eduardo Montero Martínez from Cienfuegos.

The most senior individual on the list was 62-year-old Reinerio Robles, who tragically died in 2024, while the youngest casualty, Juan Raúl Pedroso, fell at just 23 years old on June 21, 2024. However, it is vital to note that this list is an incomplete record; independent investigations have indicated that more Cuban soldiers might have died, but their names remain unreported either due to lack of documentation or families choosing not to disclose their losses.

Reports of Cuban soldiers missing in action continue to emerge, as elTOQUE’s audience shares information in their chat. The span of this conflict’s impact reflects not only on individual lives lost but also highlights the ethical considerations of nations involved in foreign recruitments for war.

Here is the full list of the 39 confirmed casualties:
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 release of the names of 39 Cuban soldiers who died fighting for Russia brings to light the grim reality of foreign mercenaries in the ongoing conflict. The timing of this announcement raises questions about national responsibilities and the plight of those recruited to fight. As the situation unfolds, there are ongoing concerns about additional unreported casualties and those who remain missing.

Original Source: havanatimes.org