Eighteen Peruvi and nationals recruited under false pretenses to serve in the war against Ukraine are being repatriated to Peru, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Saturday.
The group was allegedly lured by fraudulent job offers in Russia, according to reports from biobiochile.cl.
Following intense demands from families, the Peruvian government confirmed that the return of these citizens is underway.
“During the course of the last two weeks, the successful return to Peru of eighteen compatriots who presented themselves to the consular section of the Embassy of Peru in Moscow has been achieved,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a communiqué.
The Ministry added that the embassy provided necessary assistance and protection, including food and lodging, to the group during their processing.
Ongoing repatriation efforts
The timeline for the return is already in motion. One Peruvian national is scheduled to arrive in the country this Sunday, May 3.
On Monday, May 4, another six Peruvians are expected to arrive. This group departed from Moscow on Saturday morning after receiving aid from the embassy.
Legal representatives for the families of the affected individuals—a group totaling approximately 135 people in Lima alone—noted that the flight carrying the six nationals will arrive in the capital on Monday afternoon via Istanbul.
Two other Peruvians remain in Russia with their return still pending, according to the Ministry. Officials expect to finalize their repatriation in the coming days.
The Ministry attributed these developments to the direct efforts of the Peruvian Ambassador to the Russian Federation and the consular section in Moscow.
According to biobiochile.cl, the families of 135 Peruvians have filed formal complaints over the past week. The Peruvian Prosecutor's Office has launched investigations into suspected human trafficking.
Investigators allege that the victims signed contracts for security work or other roles in Russia. Once they arrived, officials say their passports were seized and they were sent to the front lines of the conflict in Ukraine.
The Peruvian government has provided the Russian Embassy in Lima with a list of citizens currently in the conflict zone. The government requested urgent information regarding their location, health, and status.
The Russian Embassy responded on Thursday, stating it would provide information on the recruited Peruvians as soon as possible, in accordance with the laws of both nations.
