In the War between Russia and Ukraine, Two Panamanian Families Received Notice of the Death of Their Children
Michael Navas and Abimael Becerra went to opposing sides in the war between Russia and Ukraine. Today, their families face the possibility that both may have died on the front lines.
Two Panamanian families from the province of Colón have recently been notified of the deaths of their children who traveled to participate in the Russia-Ukraine war. According to reports published by news media, these notifications represent a growing human toll for Panama, a country historically characterized by its peaceful stance and international neutrality.]
Overview of the Situation
The fatalities underscore a wider, deceptive recruitment pipeline affecting Latin American citizens.
Deceptive Job Offers: Relatives and authorities state that many young Panamanians were lured to the region under false pretenses. They believed they were hired for civilian roles, such as operating heavy machinery, construction, or mechanical work.
- Forced Combat: Upon arrival, many recruits were allegedly stripped of their documents and sent directly to the front lines against their will.
- Official Action: The Panamanian Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Directorate of Judicial Investigation (DIJ) are conducting criminal investigations into the fraudulent networks. Law enforcement has already apprehended a suspect in Panama for recruiting citizens using fake job offers.
Global Numbers and Government Response
The Panama Ministry of Foreign Affairs has steadily updated its registry as more families step forward:
- Total Tracked Citizens: The government is monitoring roughly 30 Panamanian citizens known to have entered the conflict zone.
- Military Affiliation: Prior registry data indicated that the vast majority (19 individuals) were linked to Russian military forces, while 5 individuals were linked to Ukraine.
- Missing in Action: At least nine Panamanians remain officially missing, with families completely losing contact with them.
- Financial Assistance: Deputy Minister of Multilateral Affairs Carlos Guevara Mann announced that Panama will cover repatriation and return costs for any citizen seeking to safely escape the war zone.
Both Panamanian officials and foreign diplomats have strongly warned citizens against accepting shady overseas employment offers, emphasizing that joining the conflict presents an extreme, life-threatening risk.
Fate led them to wear different uniforms and fight for other flags. Their stories begin in Colón. There, the message Erminia Mariota had been dreading for weeks arrived while she was attending church. On the other end of the call, she was informed that her son, Michael Navas, was listed as a “fallen soldier” in Ukraine.
