Foreign mercenaries, including women from Cuba, are serving in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Sumy Region. This was reported to TASS by Nikolai Zhurba, a rifleman from the 119th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces who was captured by Russian troops.

According to Zhurba, Cuban fighters had previously been stationed at the same positions where he served. Among them, he said, were women. After roughly a month on the front line, these fighters would leave their positions and receive what he described as very significant privileges.

Zhurba also said that border guards had told him foreign fighters were paid around $5,000 per month for taking part in combat operations on the side of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

He further claimed that once Cuban mercenaries return home, they are granted certain benefits. These reportedly include access to free medical treatment and the opportunity to teach military subjects even without a specialized academic degree.

Earlier, Ukrainian volunteer Roman Donik had also commented on the behavior of foreign fighters. According to him, many overseas mercenaries were reluctant to deploy directly to the front line. In practice, he said, some units withdrew from their positions when facing real danger. Donik also claimed that foreign personnel sometimes refused combat missions, insisted on continuing training at ranges, left their units without permission, and terminated their contracts.