Russia: 64 soldiers died during the "Cuban crisis"

The Russian defense ministry has announced that 64 Soviet soldiers died during the operation in Cuba that gave rise to the most serious crisis with the United States, although it is not yet specified how. In the statement released by the defense minister on the day of the 55th anniversary of the arrival of the first medium-range ballistic missiles in Cuba, we read: “The exact number of Soviet soldiers who lost their lives in the operation had not been published. Between 1962 August 16 and 1964 August 64, XNUMX Soviet citizens died in Cuba ”.

The covert operation, which was given the name of "Anadyr", was organized in response to the deployment of American missiles in Turkey and Italy and the threat of American intervention in Cuba following the failed American Bay of Pigs operation in 1961. After the deployment of the first missiles, nuclear warheads also arrived in Cuba, writes Tass today. The crisis between Moscow and Washington reached its peak between October 26 and 27, 1962, when the two countries came close to war. Moscow deployed a total of 64 medium-range missiles and 42 troops. Washington imposed a blockade against Cuba to prevent the arrival of other weapons. After US President John Kennedy assured the US would not invade Cuba, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev ordered the missiles to be withdrawn.

Photo: pochestorie.corriere.it

Russia: 64 soldiers died during the "Cuban crisis"