Peru urges Russia to provide details on 459 citizens fighting in Ukraine

Peruvian Foreign Minister Carlos Espá met with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in Moscow on Monday to express Lima’s “deep concern” over the situation of 459 Peruvians reportedly fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.

Espá said Peru wants verifiable information on the whereabouts of its citizens, including those who may have been killed, wounded, gone missing or taken prisoner. He also called for access to wounded Peruvians and faster repatriation of those who have died.

The visit, the first by a Peruvian foreign minister to Russia in 12 years, seeks to address the concerns of the families of those involved through political, humanitarian and consular efforts.

Lavrov said Russian authorities have provided information to the Peruvian Embassy in Moscow and maintained that the Peruvians “voluntarily signed contracts” with the Russian Armed Forces. He asked Lima to provide specific details on individual cases.

The issue has drawn increased attention in Peru following a court decision in October to order pretrial detention for a man accused of human trafficking for allegedly recruiting people through false job offers and sending them to fight in Ukraine.

The case also echoes concerns raised in the Dominican Republic, where authorities have been investigating reports of Dominicans who traveled to Russia for purported civilian or technical jobs and later became involved in the conflict. Dominican officials have identified cases involving citizens recruited under questionable circumstances, while the Government has provided legal and consular assistance and coordinated with Russian authorities on their status and possible return.

The Dominican Government has also warned citizens about deceptive overseas job offers linked to Russia. Reports indicate that around 150 Dominicans may be fighting for Russian forces, although the exact number remains unclear.

Peru has also cited reports alleging that Russia recruited foreign nationals through deceptive means, while Moscow maintains that those who joined its armed forces did so voluntarily.