Peru probes trafficking of citizens to fight for Russia in Ukraine

Lima [Peru], May 3: Peru has launched an investigation into an alleged human trafficking network that lured citizens with false promises of employment in Russia, only for them to end up fighting in Russia's war against Ukraine, the public prosecutor's office has said.
In a statement released on Thursday, Moscow's embassy in Lima acknowledged that Peruvians had signed contracts to join the Russian armed forces.
The Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had asked the Russian embassy to clarify the situation and obtain information about the location and wellbeing of citizens serving in the Russian military. The ministry noted that Peruvian citizens are required to seek permission from the Foreign Ministry before serving in a foreign military.
The families of some of the victims who claimed they were recruited under false pretences to fight in Ukraine protested outside the ministry in Lima on Thursday, demanding their loved ones be repatriated.
Peru is the latest country to raise complaints against Russia over the deceptive recruitment of foreign nationals to fight in Ukraine. Upon arrival in Russia, many of these recruits were allegedly coerced into participating in combat operations against Ukraine. Percy Salinas, a lawyer representing the families of the victims, stated that approximately 600 Peruvians may have departed for Russia since October 2025.
More than 1,780 citizens from 36 African countries are believed to be fighting alongside Russian forces, according to Ukrainian estimates from February. Russia has also previously acknowledged enlisting soldiers from North Korea, thousands of whom are estimated to have been killed or wounded in battle, as part of a military pact agreed between Moscow and Pyongyang.
Source: Qatar Tribune