The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru has officially reported for the first time on the deaths of citizens of the country who fought on the side of Russia against Ukraine. According to the department, 459 Peruvians joined the Russian army: 11 of them died, 114 are considered missing, and another three were captured by Ukrainian military personnel.
This was reported by the Spanish agency EFE.
The Peruvian MFA released these figures in a statement dated August 9. According to the department, 459 Peruvians were recruited into the Russian army: 11 of them died, 114 went missing, and another three were captured by the Ukrainian Defense Forces. Previously, the Peruvian government had not reported on citizens who died as part of Russian troops.
The MFA also reported that another four Peruvians returned home. According to the department, they fled forced recruitment into the war against Ukraine and found themselves in a vulnerable position in Russia.
In total, 31 citizens of Peru were evacuated from Russia. Of these, 28 returned to their homeland, while another three chose to remain in Europe of their own accord.
Diplomats urged Peruvians not to believe false job offers, as they could lead to involvement in criminal human trafficking networks. The MFA reminded that serving in the army of another state requires permission from the Peruvian government.
The department also requested to report recruiters to the prosecutor’s office and police. Victims and their relatives can contact the consular departments in Moscow and Warsaw, which handle matters related to Ukraine.
Relatives of the recruited Peruvians held a protest outside the Russian embassy in the Peruvian capital, Lima, on August 4. They demanded the return of their loved ones, especially the wounded, and information about the whereabouts of the missing. According to the protesters, they filed official reports on human trafficking in April 2026, but the recruiters who deceived their relatives are still at large, and the cases “are lying in the prosecutor’s office.”
Families of the recruited have been organizing protests since the early months of 2026. The Peruvian government sent diplomatic notes but received no response, so it requested assistance from the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Source: suspilne.media