The Russian Consulate General in Havana has officially informed Yaritza González Turcas of the supposed death of her brother, Yusbel González Turcas. However, Yusbel, a Cuban national, is actually alive and has been held captive by Ukrainian forces since the summer of 2025. Born on July 31, 1973, González Turcas was enlisted by the Russian military and deployed to the Kupyansk front in eastern Ukraine. "I Want to Live" released a video as evidence of the captive mercenary's survival, where he states, "My name is Yusbel González Turcas. "I Want to Live" has identified at least 1,028 Cubans within the Russian military ranks, with 93 confirmed deaths by January 2026.