On Sunday, June 22, 2026, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, who also serves as First Secretary of the Communist Party Central Committee, publicly shared his deep grief over the passing of iconic revolutionary leader Ramiro Valdés Menéndez via his social media channels.
In an emotional statement posted online, Díaz-Canel framed the loss of the veteran revolutionary as akin to losing a beloved father, a sentiment that captures the deep respect and affection he has long held for Valdés. “That’s how I always loved and respected him. This way I will remember his support and advice, his discreet collaboration and exemplary dedication to the service of the Homeland,” the president wrote.
Díaz-Canel emphasized that every moment of Valdés’ life was defined by unwavering loyalty: to former revolutionary leaders Fidel Castro and Raúl Castro, to his fellow revolutionary fighters, and to the core principles of the Moncada Program. From the 1953 assault on the dictatorship’s Moncada Barracks — a pivotal moment that launched the Cuban revolution — to his final breath on this Father’s Day, Valdés never wavered in defending the just mission of the revolutionary movement, Díaz-Canel noted. The commander’s death has cast a shadow of sadness over the holiday for Cubans across the country.
Closing his tribute, the Cuban president offered a final salute to the legendary revolutionary: “Always onward to victory, Commander!”
The announcement was originally reported by Cuba’s state-run Granma news outlet, marking the passing of one of the last remaining founding figures of the Cuban Revolution.