Russia has been accused of coercing Cubans to help fight in its war with Ukraine, in what Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described as “a human trafficking network.” The ministry released a statement on Monday, Sept. 4.

Russian authorities have reportedly been looking abroad for fresh troops in recent months. Officials have also been accused of recruiting among Central Asian migrants already in Russia, offering high wages and a fast-track to citizenship that may also entice more of their compatriots to migrate.

“The Ministry of the Interior has detected and it is working to neutralize and dismantle a human trafficking network that operates from Russia in order to incorporate Cuban citizens living there and even some living in Cuba, into the military forces that participate in military operations in Ukraine,” the ministry said in a statement. “Attempts of this nature have been neutralized and criminal proceedings have been initiated against those involved in these activities.”

Cuba-Russia relations have traditionally been close, seeking leverage against the United States and its allies. Both countries have been under U.S. sanctions for years and have generally aligned against U.S. foreign policy.

Economic ties between Havana and Moscow have expanded since the start of the war and the economic sanctions that followed. In June of 2023, Cuba’s defense minister traveled to Moscow to discuss joint technical military projects with his Russian counterpart.

Despite this, the ministry rejected the idea that Russia’s trafficking network meant Cuba was participating in the war with Ukraine.

“Cuba is not part of the war in Ukraine. It is acting and it will firmly act against those who within the national territory participate in any form of human trafficking for mercenarism or recruitment purposes,” the ministry said. “Cuba’s enemies are promoting distorted information that seeks to tarnish the country’s image and present it as an accomplice to these actions that we firmly reject. Cuba has a firm and clear historical position against mercenarism, and it plays an active role in the United Nations in rejection of the aforementioned practice, being the author of several of the initiatives approved in that forum.”