The Cuban Foreign Ministry revealed a "trafficking network" operated by Russia aimed at recruiting Cubans to participate in the war in Ukraine, and it has initiated criminal prosecutions against the individuals involved.

The Cuban Foreign Ministry stated in a statement published on its website today, Tuesday, that the Ministry of the Interior is working to dismantle and disable the human trafficking network that operates from Russia, involving Cuban citizens living there and even some from Cuba, in the armed forces participating in military operations in Ukraine.

It reported that Cuba's enemies are promoting distorted information aimed at tarnishing the country's image and presenting it as a partner in these actions that Cuba strongly rejects.

According to the statement, the ministry has initiated "criminal prosecutions against individuals involved in these activities."

It also emphasized its firm rejection of the activity of "mercenaries", noting that Cuba is not participating in the war in Ukraine.

The ministry pointed out that "Cuba has a historical, firm, and clear position against mercenaries, as it plays an active role in the United Nations in rejecting the mentioned practice, being the owner of many initiatives that were approved by the United Nations."

In contrast, the Russian Federal Security Service detained a citizen in the Krasnodar region in the south of the country who was recruited by Ukrainian intelligence and attempted to leave for Ukraine to join the Ukrainian army.

A statement from the Russian Federal Security Service - reported by the (Russia Today) news channel today, Tuesday - indicated that a Russian citizen had contacted one of the agents of the Ukrainian security service, attempting to recruit volunteers to fight alongside the forces in Kyiv against Russia.

The statement noted that the Russian citizen was arrested while trying to leave for Ukraine.

The Russian Federal Security Service announced on Monday the arrest of a Ukrainian belonging to one of the terrorist sabotage groups in the Zaporizhia region located south of Kyiv.