Peru's Foreign Ministry confirmed on Sunday that eleven Peruvian citizens have died in Russia after being recruited into Russian military forces.
Ministry officials reported that 114 other Peruvians remain missing while three citizens have been captured by the Ukrainian army, out of a total of 459 Peruvians enrolled in Russian units.
Under the Peruvian Constitution, citizens are permitted to perform military service in a foreign country only if they obtain prior authorization from the state. Peruvian law establishes that official authorization marks the boundary between a lawful personal choice and a criminal violation.
Civilian participation in foreign armed conflicts has a long history worldwide. Volunteers have historically taken up arms due to ideological conviction, such as members of the International Brigades who fought in the Spanish Civil War, or for financial gain as mercenaries operating in modern conflicts.
Among the 459 Peruvians recruited into Russian units, a portion chose to enlist voluntarily after being lured by monthly compensation exceeding $3,000, a sum unattainable in the Peruvian labor market. However, official records confirm that another group fell victim to deceptive recruitment, having agreed to travel under the belief that they would work in construction or private security before being deployed to the combat front.
A relative of one recruit spoke out directly in front of the Russian Embassy in Lima, urging the Peruvian state to listen to affected families as news of casualties emerged.
Human trafficking reports and missing combatants
Several families filed formal complaints in April alleging human trafficking by recruitment networks. Despite the seriousness of the allegations, those legal files have remained dormant without progress inside the Prosecutor's Office, Peru's national authority responsible for criminal investigations.
Peru's Foreign Ministry issued formal diplomatic notes to Russian authorities seeking information on the missing citizens, but Moscow failed to reply. Consequently, the ministry requested assistance from the International Committee of the Red Cross, an independent humanitarian body that assists victims of armed conflicts, to help locate the 114 missing individuals.
Urgent priorities for Peruvian government
Peru's newly formed administration faces two urgent priorities to manage the unfolding situation. On the international stage, diplomats must deploy all available instruments to pressure Russia for answers regarding the missing Peruvian nationals.
Domestically, the Peruvian judicial system must move swiftly to dismantle recruitment rings operating within national territory. Official assessments warn that these illicit networks continue to target citizens and recruit them for foreign forces with total impunity.
