Peru says Russia recruited nearly 500 of its citizens to fight against Ukraine
Photo: 459 Peruvians joined the Russian army (flickr.com)
Peru's Foreign Ministry has for the first time confirmed that some of its citizens who were recruited and fought on Russia's side in the war against Ukraine have been killed, according to Spanish news agency EFE.
Last Sunday, August 9, the Foreign Ministry said that among the recruited citizens there were people who had been killed, gone missing and even taken prisoner.
"Officially, 459 Peruvians are reported to have joined the army, 11 were killed, 114 are missing, and three were captured by the Ukrainian army," the statement said.
The Foreign Ministry also said that a total of 31 Peruvian citizens had been evacuated from Russia. Of these, 28 returned to Peru, while three remain in Europe "of their own accord."
The statement also urged Peruvians not to fall for "false job offers," as they could become victims of human trafficking networks. The ministry stressed that Peruvians must obtain government authorization to serve in the military of any other country.
The Foreign Ministry also urged citizens to report recruiters to prosecutors and the national police.
EFE also reported that last Tuesday, relatives of Peruvians recruited by Russia held a demonstration outside the Russian Embassy in Lima. They demanded the return of their relatives, particularly those who had been wounded, and called for information about their whereabouts.
What else is important to know
It should be recalled that last month it became known that Russia had recruited more than 42,000 foreigners to fight in the war against Ukraine and planned to recruit even more by the end of 2026. One in five of them had already been killed.
Also in recent days, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia had decided to have another 30,000 to 50,000 North Korean soldiers deployed on its territory to carry out missions. This would give North Korean troops experience in modern warfare.
