Peruvians Promised Jobs in Russia, Now on Ukraine Front Lines
Peruvians say they were promised jobs in Russia, but many ended up fighting on the front lines in Ukraine. Norma, a mother in Lima, Peru, recalls her 31-year-old son’s excitement as he prepared to leave for Russia. He believed he had secured a position as a cook with the Russian military, a role that would provide steady income and potentially lead to Russian citizenship. Yet, his journey took an unexpected turn when he found himself in Ukraine, engaging in combat. “I wanted to lock him in the house, but he’d already made up his mind,” Norma told CNN, expressing her lingering doubts about the promises made to her son.
The Recruitment Process and Promises
At the airport, Norma noticed others with similar stories, all preparing to travel to Russia under the same assurances. The recruits, often from rural or economically disadvantaged backgrounds, were lured by offers of high wages and employment opportunities. “He told me, ‘Mom, please understand, I’m just going as a cook,’” Norma recalled. “But a mother’s intuition always senses something more.” Her son’s departure marked the beginning of a journey that diverged from the promise of a peaceful job, leaving her with a mix of hope and uncertainty about his current fate.
Soon after, Norma received videos showing her son in battle gear, constructing pinewood shelters in a Ukrainian forest alongside foreign fighters. These clips, shared with CNN, highlighted the stark contrast between the initial promise of work and the reality of combat. The recruitment process, which began with a single phone call, quickly transformed into a commitment to war. For families like Norma’s, the promise of financial stability became a gamble on the front lines.
Russia’s Global Recruitment Strategy
As the war in Ukraine drags on, Russia has intensified its efforts to recruit fighters from countries like Peru, offering lucrative contracts to bolster its military. The recruitment campaigns often emphasize high salaries and bonuses, with some job offers even including the prospect of citizenship. However, many recruits, including dozens of Peruvians, have found themselves in unfamiliar territory, far from home and their original intentions. This has sparked concern among families, who now question the authenticity of the promises made to their loved ones.
Rosa, another Peruvian mother, described her 48-year-old husband’s decision to join a group of men seeking employment in Russia. “He told me to calm down,” she said, “and since that day I haven’t heard from him again.” While her husband had experience as a prison officer in Peru, he had no military training. The allure of a steady income and the promise of a better life seemed enough to sway his choice, even as the war in Ukraine intensified. His family’s protests outside the Russian embassy in Lima reflect a growing unease about the circumstances of their recruitment.
Experts warn that the recruitment process often exploits financial desperation. Pedro Bravo, head of Peruvian Communities Abroad at the Foreign Ministry, noted that many recruits are unaware of the international realities they’re entering. “They have limited resources and are in dire need of funds,” Bravo explained. “It’s much easier to deceive them.” This lack of awareness, combined with the appeal of quick money, has led to a surge in Peruvians signing up for the war, often through local recruiters who promise employment in exchange for service.
Similar stories are emerging across other Latin American nations, with Russia actively recruiting from regions facing economic challenges. In Kenya, the foreign minister recently criticized Russia for allegedly operating a human trafficking network, while Nepal suspended work-related travel to Moscow after thousands of citizens volunteered for the conflict. These incidents underscore a growing international concern about the tactics used to recruit individuals from developing countries, many of whom were promised jobs but ended up fighting in Ukraine.
