Norma, a Peruvian mother, last saw her son in January when he left for Russia, promised a job as a cook for the Russian army. However, he soon found himself fighting on the front lines in Ukraine. This is not an isolated incident, as many Peruvian men have been lured into the Russian military with promises of lucrative employment, only to be sent to war.

Deceptive Recruitment

These men, often from impoverished backgrounds, are deceived by local recruiters and social media ads. They are promised high salaries and benefits but are instead forced into combat. Rosa, another Peruvian mother, shared a similar story of her husband, who was recruited with promises of a job as a security guard but ended up fighting in Ukraine.

The Peruvian government has taken notice, with the public prosecutor’s office investigating Russian recruitment, which it describes as ‘human trafficking.’ The government has also made requests to Moscow for information on Peruvians in the Russian military, demanding their safe return.

Estimates suggest that at least 800 Peruvians are fighting for Russia, many of whom signed up on the promise of high salaries. The stories from Peruvian recruits and their families are similar, with many men being from impoverished backgrounds and having limited understanding of the international reality.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.