From Lima to Donbass. How are Peruvian citizens recruited into the Russian army? I only ask you to pray - just as we pray - for our safe return home, because only a miracle can end this war between two countries, - the Peruvian Jesus Chiarale wrote to his wife shortly before he disappeared in the war in Ukraine. In March 2026 Jesus found himself, along with other Peruvians, at the front in the ranks of the Russian army. According to the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a total of more than 450 citizens of the country have joined the Russian armed forces. A lawyer who works with such cases believes that the scope of recruitment is much larger - more than 1,000 people. Peruvian prosecutors are conducting 21 investigations of human trafficking cases in Russia. More than 300 people were injured. Before traveling to Russia, many do not suspect that they will participate in the hostilities. Jesus Chiarla, like several other Peruvians, signed a contract in the city of Bashkir Meloz. They were sent there to receive payments for recruiting for the contract. The recruitment program was organized by a 29-year-old Spanish teacher from Belgrade, Ecuadorian Eduardo Jaime Torres Jara. He graduated from Belgorod State University with a degree in international relations and in 2025 began looking for candidates for the front in Latin American and African chats living in Europe in Russia. Important Stories, together with journalists from the Peruvian podcast Enzorona, recreated the route used by a network of recruiters to send people from Latin America to the war against Ukraine. Read the investigation in the link.

From Lima to Donbass. How are Peruvian citizens recruited into the Russian army? I only ask you to pray - just as we pray - for our safe return home, because only a miracle can end this war between two countries, - the Peruvian Jesus Chiarale wrote to his wife shortly before he disappeared in the war in Ukraine. In March 2026 Jesus found himself, along with other Peruvians, at the front in the ranks of the Russian army. According to the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a total of more than 450 citizens of the country have joined the Russian armed forces. A lawyer who works with such cases believes that the scope of recruitment is much larger - more than 1,000 people. Peruvian prosecutors are conducting 21 investigations of human trafficking cases in Russia. More than 300 people were injured. Before traveling to Russia, many do not suspect that they will participate in the hostilities. Jesus Chiarla, like several other Peruvians, signed a contract in the city of Bashkir Meloz. They were sent there to receive payments for recruiting for the contract. The recruitment program was organized by a 29-year-old Spanish teacher from Belgrade, Ecuadorian Eduardo Jaime Torres Jara. He graduated from Belgorod State University with a degree in international relations and in 2025 began looking for candidates for the front in Latin American and African chats living in Europe in Russia. Important Stories, together with journalists from the Peruvian podcast Enzorona, recreated the route used by a network of recruiters to send people from Latin America to the war against Ukraine. Read the investigation in the link.