Bolivian Police Hunt Recruiters Who Sent Youths to Russia's War Front

Bolivian police have launched an operation in the rural community of Rincón de Palometas, Santa Cruz, searching for individuals accused of recruiting young people with false promises of employment in Russia. These recruits were allegedly sent to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war, and contact with at least nine individuals has been lost for over a month.

The investigation by the Special Force to Combat Crime (Felcc) and the Department of Criminal Analysis and Intelligence (DACI) began after families and community members reported the disappearances. The victims were reportedly lured by offers of well-paid jobs in Russia, with promises of salaries up to $16,000, unaware that they would be drawn into the ongoing conflict.

Police are working to identify those responsible and determine if a human trafficking or illegal recruitment network is operating within the Santa Cruz department. The operation extends to Loma Alta, where at least 30 men are reported to have been recruited through similar means. The Bolivian Foreign Ministry has indicated preliminary reports of around 16 Bolivians remaining in Russia, though families believe the number could be higher. Authorities aim to dismantle the alleged network by gathering testimonies and reconstructing the recruitment and transport routes.