In this photo taken on Oct.13, 2025 and provided by Ukraine's 24th Mechanized Brigade press service, smoke raises amid the ruins in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk.

More than 1,000 Cubans have been tricked into fighting for Russia in the Ukraine war, it has been reported.

The Kyiv Independent said Ukranian military intelligence (HUR) revealed that 96 of the foreign fighters had either been killed or gone missing in action.

The reports back up an unclassified cable released by America which said that an “estimated 1,000 to 5,000 Cubans (are) fighting in Ukraine”.

According to HUR, Cuban nationals are tricked into travelling to Russia by the promise of lucrative construction work advertised on Facebook, YouTube and TikTok.

“After arriving in the Russian Federation, recruits are offered contracts for military service drawn up in Russian without translation instead of employment........

© HuffPost