About 450 Peruvians were recruited under false pretenses to fight in the Russian army in the war against Ukraine, according to Foreign Minister Carlos Espá, who arrived in Moscow and will meet his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, on Monday, November 9, to seek information on their whereabouts, according to Andina and RPP. It is the first official visit by a Peruvian foreign minister to Moscow since 2012, according to EFE.
Of the cases with official information, 187 people are listed as missing and 25 as dead, according to figures Espá gave Congress in early November, cited by Gestión. The figures have changed from month to month and do not always add up, as explained below. This article covers what is known about the Peruvians recruited for Russia's war, how they were lured and what the state is doing.
View the data as a table
| Peruvians recruited | 450 |
| Missing | 187 |
| Dead | 25 |
| Repatriated | 50 |
How many Peruvians were recruited by Russia
The minister spoke of 450 Peruvians recruited "by criminal organizations" to fight in "a war that is not theirs," according to Andina. Before Congress's Constitution Committee he gave two other figures: 459 citizens who "would have enlisted" and 430 cases recorded by the ministry from its contacts with families, according to Gestión. Of that total, 344 cases have official information.
| Status (cases with official information) | People |
|---|---|
| Missing | 187 |
| On active duty in the Russian Armed Forces | 132 |
| Dead | 25 |
| Prisoners of war in Ukraine | 4 |
| Total reported by the ministry | 344 (the breakdown adds up to 348) |
Source: Foreign Minister Carlos Espá before Congress, according to Gestión, November 1, 2026. The same article reports that the ministry repatriated 50 nationals and identified 10 Peruvians who died in Russia; it does not say whether those 10 are part of the 25 dead in the breakdown.
How the figures on Peruvians in Russia's war have changed
In September, the Foreign Ministry had acknowledged at least 459 Peruvians recruited, 11 dead, 114 missing and 3 prisoners in Ukraine, and the minister reported 28 repatriated, according to EFE via Infobae. Two months later, the missing rose to 187 and the dead to 25. The figures at each cut-off are not fully comparable: they change as families file reports and official confirmations arrive, and the ministry itself has used different totals.
View the data as a table
| Missing | Repatriated | Dead | Prisoners | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 114 | 28 | 11 | 3 |
| November | 187 | 50 | 25 | 4 |
| Indicator | September 2026 | November 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Recruited | At least 459 | 450 (minister's figure) |
| Missing | 114 | 187 |
| Dead | 11 | 25 (10 identified in Russia) |
| Prisoners in Ukraine | 3 | 4 |
| Repatriated | 28 | 50 |
Sources: September, EFE via Infobae; November, Gestión and Andina.
How Peruvians were lured
According to the Foreign Ministry, the recruits traveled for job offers, many of them in security, and ended up signing contracts with the Russian army. Espá spoke of "deception by transnational criminal organizations" and urged citizens not to be "fooled by recruitment networks," according to RPP. Families reported losing contact with their relatives after receiving "job offers in Russia," according to EFE.
One case has reached the courts. Prosecutors are investigating a man identified as Vidal L., held in 14 months of pretrial detention for alleged human trafficking. According to the Public Ministry, between March and April 2026 he offered a resident of San Martín de Porres US$2,600 a month and free immigration paperwork; the victim underwent medical tests, signed a contract in Russian and was promised US$26,000, according to EFE via Infobae. His sister's complaint led to the identification of the alleged recruiter. For reference, Peru's minimum wage is S/ 1,230 a month, according to our minimum wage article.
| Element of the offer | Detail according to prosecutors |
|---|---|
| Promised salary | US$2,600 a month |
| Additional payment | US$26,000 |
| Immigration paperwork | Free |
| Contract | Signed in Russian, after medical tests |
| Recruiter's status | 14 months of pretrial detention for alleged trafficking |
Source: Public Ministry, according to EFE via Infobae.
What the Foreign Ministry is seeking in Moscow
The minister's trip, authorized from November 6 to 11 by Supreme Resolution 309-2026-PCM, according to Gestión, has four goals on this issue: opening communication channels with Russian authorities, finding out the whereabouts and condition of the Peruvians, assisting the wounded and moving ahead with repatriating the remains of the dead, according to RPP. "Our main concern is the hundreds of Peruvian compatriots enlisted in the Russian Armed Forces," Espá said on arrival.
The agenda includes other bilateral issues: maintenance of the Russian MI-8 and MI-17 helicopters Peru uses in emergencies such as El Niño and an agreement to recognize academic degrees earned in Russia, according to Andina. In September, Espá had already summoned the Russian ambassador, Alexei Ushakov, twice to demand "concrete answers," according to EFE. The outcome of the meeting with Lavrov will be known on Monday.
- Mar.-Apr. 2026A case reaches prosecutorsAn alleged recruiter offered US$2,600 a month to a man from San Martín de Porres; he is now in 14 months of pretrial detention.
- Aug. 2026The ministry acknowledges the figuresAt least 459 recruited, 11 dead and 114 missing.
- Sept. 2026Espá summons the Russian ambassador twiceHe asks for "concrete answers" on their whereabouts.
- Nov. 1, 2026New tally before Congress450 recruited, 187 missing and 25 dead among cases with official information.
- Nov. 8, 2026The foreign minister arrives in MoscowFirst official visit by a Peruvian foreign minister since 2012.
- Nov. 9, 2026Meeting with Sergei Lavrov
How to avoid fraudulent job offers abroad
- Be wary of very high salaries with paid tickets and visas, especially for "security" jobs with no requirements.
- Do not sign contracts in a language you do not understand or hand your passport to third parties.
- Check with the Foreign Ministry or a consulate before traveling; according to the minister, the law requires state authorization to serve in foreign forces.
- Report any suspicious offer to the police or the Public Ministry.
Frequently asked questions
How many Peruvians were recruited by Russia?
About 450, according to Foreign Minister Carlos Espá. Before Congress he also gave figures of 459 and 430 cases, with 344 having official information.
How many Peruvians have died in the war?
The ministry reported 25 dead among cases with official information and 10 identified in Russia. In September the figure was 11.
How many have returned to Peru?
50 repatriated, according to the ministry, compared with 28 in September.
What is the foreign minister doing in Moscow?
He meets Sergei Lavrov on Monday, November 9, to seek information on the Peruvians' whereabouts and the repatriation of the dead.
Has anyone been detained?
Yes. An alleged recruiter, Vidal L., is in 14 months of pretrial detention for alleged human trafficking.
