In Peru, relatives of local citizens recruited into the Russian army are demanding an investigation into the circumstances of their disappearance. The protest took place outside the Russian embassy in the country.
This was reported by the Centre for Countering Disinformation.
According to relatives, many Peruvians were promised rear-area jobs and favourable terms of service during recruitment. Instead, after arriving in Russia, they may have been sent straight to the front to take part in assaults on Ukrainian positions.
By the relatives’ own estimates, around 500 Peruvians may be considered missing while serving in the Russian army. They are urging the Peruvian government and Russian diplomats to look into the recruitment schemes and establish the fate of the missing citizens.
Peru is not the only country in the Global South to express concern about Russia recruiting its citizens. The foreign ministries of Ghana, South Africa, Kenya and Botswana have also called on Moscow to stop drawing their citizens into the war against Ukraine.
According to international media, by the end of 2025 Russia may have recruited around 18,000 citizens from 128 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America to take part in the war. At least 3,300 of them, by these estimates, have been killed.
The Centre notes that recruiting foreigners allows Russia to offset significant losses suffered by its army at the front. At the same time, cases of deception and the deaths of foreign mercenaries are becoming increasingly visible, prompting official responses from their countries.
- Earlier, Peru’s foreign ministry reported the deaths of 11 Peruvians who joined the Russian army. Another 114 citizens are considered missing. Three were taken prisoner by Ukrainian forces.