The Kyiv Independent
News, analyses, investigations, opinions, podcasts and more. On-the-ground reporting from Ukraine
BBC: Russia lures Cubans to army with offers of high pay, Russian passport.
Leaked documents reveal that Russia has been coercing Cuban citizens into the Russian Armed Forces with salaries of approximately $2,000 per month, in addition to offers of a Russian passports within months of signing up, a BBC investigation revealed on May 4.
According to the BBC, hundreds of Cubans have allegedly joined Russia's Armed Forces since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, online leaks reveal .
At least 200 names of Cubans were leaked in September and October 2023 by pro-Ukrainian hackers, with the BBC confirming at least 31 accounts whose names matched leaked records appearing to be in Russia or linked to the Russian army.
The BBC investigation further revealed social media posts suggesting some Cubans are receiving Russian passports within months of signing up for the Armed Forces, a theory that was corroborated by local media reports suggesting that citizenship to newly-recruited Cuban fighters would be granted "in the future."
Other Cubans who have move to Russia on the prospects of finding work in the construction industry were reportedly instead sent to Ukraine's eastern front. In September 2023, Cuba had uncovered a human trafficking ring aimed at recruiting people to fight for Russia, a violation that Cuba's Foreign Affairs Ministry " firmly rejects ."
Russia continues to increase its campaign to recruit foreigners in neighboring countries and exploited migrant workers for its war against Ukraine to avoid domestic mobilization. Foreign recruits from Nepal, Cuba, Uzbekistan , Armenia, Kazakhstan, Somalia , as well as additional central Asian and African countries, have served as primary targets for recruitment.
In January, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree allowing foreign nationals who join the Russian Armed Forces to be able to apply for Russian citizenship.
Cuba and Russia, two allies since the start of the Cold War, have reciprocal visa-free travel between the countries, as well as direct flights between Havana and Moscow.
Polish PM: Warsaw to spend $2.5 billion to secure Russia, Belarus border
Poland plans to invest 10 billion zlotys ($2.55 billion) in strengthening its borders with Russia and Belarus to deter potential aggression, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on May 18, according to Bloomberg.
Prosecutor’s Office: 2 killed, 2 injured in Russian attack on Kharkiv Oblast.
Two people were killed and two more were injured when a car with civilians trying to evacuate from Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast came under Russian fire, the Prosecutor General’s Office reported on May 18.
Authorities: Russian attack on Kharkiv injures 5, including 2 children.
Russian forces struck a residential area in the city of Kharkiv on the afternoon of May 18, injuring at least five people, including two children, local officials reported.
Ukraine charges Russia's FSB chief, top officials with guiding EuroMaidan violence.
Ukraine's State Bureau of Investigation reported on May 18 that it had charged Alexander Bortnikov, the head of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), and another 20 top officials of Russian special services with curating and aiding the illegal ...
Zelensky: Ukraine only has 25% of needed air defense capabilities.
Ukraine only has 25% of the air defense capabilities it needs to adequately repel Russian attacks, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with AFP on May 17.
LIVE: Top Political News on May 16, 2024 - America Decides.
“America Decides” reports on the top political stories of the day. #news #politics #livenews CBS News Streaming Network is the premier 24/7 anchored streaming news service from CBS News and Stations, available free to everyone with access to the I...
Republican voters urged to chip away at Democrats’ mail-in voting advantage.
U.S. voters have several ways to cast their ballots in an election, including by mail. Many Democrats have embraced mail-in voting, and now Republicans are being urged by party leaders, including former President Donald Trump, to use all voting op...
LIVE: Latest News on May 16, 2024 - The Daily Report with John Dickerson.
We're covering all of the day's top stories and more on "The Daily Report with John Dickerson." #news #politics #livenews CBS News Streaming Network is the premier 24/7 anchored streaming news service from CBS News and Stations, available free to ...
NFL responds after Chiefs’ kicker delivers controversial commencement speech.
The league said in a statement that the views Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker expressed in a speech at Benedictine College “are not those of the NFL as an organization.” Subscribe to ABC News on YouTube: Watch 24/7 coverage of breaking n...
Wife 'in dreadful state' after parasite outbreak in Brixham.
Residents in parts of Brixham, Boohay, Kingswear, Roseland and North West Paignton were told to boil their drinking water after 22 cases of cryptosporidiosis were confirmed in the Devon area. #shorts #devon #contaminatedwater SUBSCRIBE to our YouT...
Sky News Press Preview - 16 May
Find out what's on tomorrow's front pages on the Sky News Press Preview ️ Every night we are joined by guests to take a look at the stories making the headlines. Tap the 'Notify me' bell button to be reminded when the show goes live and make sure ...