The Peruvian Foreign Ministry stated that 459 Peruvian citizens have participated in the Russia-Ukraine war, reporting that 11 citizens have been killed and 114 are missing.
Additionally, the ministry reported that 3 Peruvian citizens were captured by the Ukrainian army and 31 individuals had been evacuated from Russia.
Peruvians reported missing in the Russia-Ukraine war
Conflicting casualty reports
While official government figures state 11 deaths, a spokesperson for the families of Peruvians who joined the Russian army said they received information indicating that at least 150 Peruvians had been killed.
Families of those who joined the Russian army gathered outside the Russian Embassy in Lima, Peru, to demand information and the return of their relatives.
Human trafficking investigations
The Peruvian government has requested assistance from the International Committee of the Red Cross to help locate missing citizens. The case is the subject of an investigation for aggravated human trafficking.
The Peruvian Foreign Ministry warned citizens against responding to fake job offers related to the war due to the risk of human trafficking, noting that official government authorization is required to serve in the armed forces of a foreign country.
Everything was done via WhatsApp. It wasn't in person, it wasn't official.
Recruitment intermediaries, including Mexican, Colombian, and Peruvian citizens, use pseudonyms such as 'Falcon' or 'Kraken'. Families report that Peruvians are forced to sign documents in Russian without translation and have their passports, ID cards, and mobile phones confiscated.
Her husband was forced to sign documents despite not speaking Russian.
Some families report being charged debts of 16,000 to 20,000 dollars for alleged moving expenses, which Peruvians must repay through military service in the Russian army.
The Peruvian Foreign Ministry urged citizens to report human traffickers to the Public Prosecutor's Office and the National Police.
Regarding consular affairs, the Peruvian Embassy in Russia's consular section is handling the repatriation of two young Peruvians in distress, while two other citizens returned to Peru at the end of July. Consular matters concerning the Ukraine region are handled by Peruvian consulates in Moscow and Warsaw.
Average monthly earnings for a person under 25 in Peru in 2024
