October 15, 2026
Graves of Five Cubans Who Signed Russian Army Contracts Found in Tula
The graves of five Cubans who fought for Russia have been found in Tula, a city south of Moscow, according to the online database of casualties in Russia's army Hochu Vernut ("I Want to Return"). The project identified the men by name, date of birth, Russian military personal number, and the date each signed a contract with the Russian armed forces.
The Five Men
The men whose graves were indentified by Hochu Vernut are:
| # | Name | DOB | Russian military ID # | Date when contract signed |
| 1 | Miguel Ángel Liranza Batista | September 26, 1975 | AB-505895 | September 12, 2025 |
| 2 | Yudanis Ramírez Palacio | April 29, 1985 | AB-009802 | January 13, 2024 |
| 3 | Miguel Ángel Ye Saldo Sepero | June 15, 1978 | MT-815711 | June 19, 2023 |
| 4 | Alexander Bastos Rodríguez | June 2, 1997 | AB-009784 | January 10, 2024 |
| 5 | Alexander Verdesia González | September 1, 1991 | AB-305258 | August 10, 2023 |
Families Probably Still in the Dark
The project said the men's families probably do not know what actually happened to them. It said Russian recruiters in Latin American countries typically offer locals easy work and good earnings in Russia, and that once they arrive they are made to sign a contract and are sent to fight in Ukraine.
Cubans Used for "Meat Assaults"
Ukraine's "I Want to Live" project previously published a list of 1,028 Cubans who signed contracts with the Russian army in 2023-2024 and went to war against Ukraine. It also said Russian officers most often use Cuban recruits as "can openers," sending Latin Americans into "meat assaults." As a result, it said, many are listed as missing in action, and their families try in vain to find out what happened to them in Russia.
A Safe Way Out
Cubans and other foreign nationals lured into Russia's armed forces have an option to safely escape the battlefield with Ukraine's "I Want to Live" project. See our FAQ for more details.
Source: Hochu Vernut on X