Peruvian Workers Misled by Russia: From Jobs to War Frontlines

WHO:

CNN - Norma, a mother from Lima, Peru, whose son was recruited.

CNN - Pedro Bravo, director of Peruvian Communities Abroad at Peru’s Foreign Ministry.

CNN - Rosa, a mother whose husband was recruited to fight for Russia.

CNN - Guillermo, a 28-year-old Peruvian army veteran currently in Russian-occupied Ukraine.

CNN - Pocho Wilson Pinto Peña, a reserve officer in the Peruvian military who connected recruits with a Russian recruiter.

WHAT:

CNN - Hundreds of Peruvian men were allegedly lured into the Russian military with promises of lucrative jobs.

CNN - Norma's son was promised a job as a cook for the Russian army but ended up fighting on the front lines in Ukraine.

CNN - Rosa's husband was recruited under the pretense of working as a security guard but was sent to combat.

CNN - The Peruvian public prosecutor’s office is investigating 36 complaints regarding false job offers leading to forced participation in armed conflict.

CNN - Salinas estimates that at least 800 Peruvians are currently fighting for Russia.

WHERE:

CNN - Lima, Peru, where Norma and Rosa reside.

CNN - Russian-occupied Ukraine, where Guillermo is currently located.

CNN - The Russian embassy in Lima, where families have been protesting.

WHEN:

CNN - Norma last saw her son in late January.

CNN - The Peruvian public prosecutor’s office announced the investigation last month.

CNN - Rosa's husband sent a message on March 26 indicating he was being moved and ordered to collect his weapons.

WHY:

CNN - Many recruits are from impoverished backgrounds and are in dire need of funds, making them susceptible to deception.

CNN - The promise of high salaries, including a $20,000 bonus and salaries of $3,000 to $4,000, motivated many Peruvians to enlist.

HOW:

CNN - Recruits were contacted through social media ads and local recruiters who promised civilian jobs.

CNN - Many recruits were forced to sign contracts in Russian upon arrival in Russia without understanding the terms.

CNN - The Russian military has been actively recruiting foreign fighters to bolster its ranks amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

(UPDATED June 28, 2026 13:21 UTC)

Hundreds of Peruvian men have reportedly been lured into the Russian military with promises of lucrative jobs, but many have found themselves on the front lines in Ukraine instead. Families in Lima, like those of Norma and Rosa, are raising concerns as the Peruvian public prosecutor’s office investigates 36 complaints about false job offers leading to forced participation in armed conflict, with estimates suggesting at least 800 Peruvians are currently fighting for Russia. The recruitment tactics have included social media ads and local recruiters, who often deceive recruits into signing contracts in Russian without fully understanding the terms, all while promising enticing salaries and bonuses.