Currently, our good intelligence tells us about at least 20,000 people from Cuba that have already filled the documents and have been recruited to fight for Russia," Yusov said, per one of his colleagues who translated his presentation for the congressional panel. His assessment underscores the challenges that both Russia and Ukraine face in keeping their front lines staffed as the war drags into its fourth year. Moscow has increasingly turned to foreign troops from areas such as North Korea, the Middle East, and Africa as it launches frequent but costly ground assaults.
He has just left cell 403, in block 13 of the prison where he is being held, somewhere in Kyiv province that will remain anonymous for security reasons. The light is dim in the corridor, but it gains intensity along the labyrinth that leads to the room where he is being held. The smell is strong. A soldier, stripped of his weapon, safely stored at the entrance to the facility, tells him yes, he can shake hands. He smiles.