How Russia recruited dozens of Peruvians to fight in Ukraine

An organized network recruits Peruvians in vulnerable economic situations in Lima, offering them work contracts in Russia that end up taking them to the war front in Ukraine.

The offer seemed too good to be true, and in many cases, it was. Dozens of Peruvian citizens, attracted by the promise of lucrative salaries and secure jobs, have been recruited in **Lima** to join the ranks of the Russian army in the conflict in **Ukraine**. What began as the disappearance of some individuals has revealed a large-scale recruitment operation that, according to estimates, could have brought **Russia** close to **1.200 Peruvians** since the beginning of **2024**. Peru’s Foreign Ministry, as of **18 de agosto**, had officially registered **459 Peruvians** enlisted in the Russian troops.

## The bait: money and security

The recruitment strategy has revealed itself as a methodical process, designed to identify and attract people with economic difficulties. Recruiters, known by aliases such as **'Poco Pinto'**, **'Visio'**, **'Freddy'** and **'Pantro'**, operate through personal contacts and social media in Peru. Their target is men, many of them with prior experience as soldiers or security guards, for whom the possibility of earning between **2.000 and 3.000 dollars** a month (approximately **1.730 to 2.600 euros**) represents an almost irresistible opportunity. To this were added signing bonuses that could reach **20.000 dollars**, free accommodation and food, and the promise of regularizing their immigration status in Russia. The pitch compared the situation with previous jobs in **Iraq**, creating a false sense of security and familiarity.

## The network: from Lima to the front

The organization has deployed a staggered system that spans from initial identification in Peru to transfer to the battlefield. Once candidates accept, they are shown promotional material, including photographs, videos and testimonials from other Peruvians supposedly already working abroad, reinforcing the credibility of the deception. Recruiters maintain constant contact, building trust and a sense of exclusivity. Most of those recruited firmly believed they were signing conventional employment contracts, without suspecting the true nature of their destination. The process has been described as a puzzle, with families providing testimonies, messages and documents to reconstruct the recruitment chain.

## The harsh reality

The illusion fades upon crossing the Russian border. What was presented as safe, risk-free employment turns into the war front in Ukraine. Families have lost contact with their loved ones, who traveled to Russia without understanding the magnitude of what they were accepting. The investigation, carried out by lawyers with the support of the affected families themselves, has made it possible to reconstruct this network that, according to estimates, could have affected some **350 families** in Peru, who are desperately seeking information about the whereabouts of their relatives.