This is a Warning for Panamanians: Russia-Ukraine War Promising Up to $3500 a Month But the Risk is Enormous

Fake job offers to participate in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continue to pose a risk to people seeking employment opportunities abroad. In light of this situation, retired commissioner Oriel Ortega pictured below, former director of the National Border Service (Senafront), urged Panamanians to remain vigilant and avoid falling for these scams.  Ortega explained that recruiters typically lure people with supposed job offers offering salaries between $2,500 and $3,500 per month. However, he asserted that these promises mask the true purpose of sending them to conflict zones. 

“They are recruited through deceptive measures, job offers and sums of money between $2,500 and $3,500 to work, and in the end, life is priceless… it’s like human trafficking in this form of warfare,” he warned.

They Warn About Scams to Recruit Fighters

The former director of Senafront explained that this type of practice is related to the use of private armies or mercenaries in international conflicts, where people are recruited with false economic promises.  He also pointed out that this mechanism is part of what is known as proxy warfare, in which private actors or third parties are used to support the interests of opposing powers. 

“Proxy warfare is hiring private armies from powerful nations to fight other powerful nations, so the call and the attention is for people not to fall for these siren tales,” he said.

They Recommend Verifying Any Job Offer Abroad

Given this situation, Ortega recommended being wary of job offers that promise high income without clear requirements or that require travel to areas near the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.  He also urged people to verify the legitimacy of hiring companies and to consult with the relevant authorities before accepting any job offer abroad, especially if it involves activities related to security or armed conflicts. 

Relatives Denounce the Recruitment of Young People from Chiriquí to Fight in the War in Russia

The grandparents of one of the young men from Chiriquí currently fighting in Russia have reported that they were unaware their grandson had traveled there for such activities and are asking Panamanian authorities to launch an investigation. They explained that their grandson had traveled to Panama City for a job offer at a plastics factory and later informed them that he was in Russia. They say they have not heard from him for 20 days. 

Panamanians Have Died in the Russia-Ukraine Conflict as Reported in the Media

Deaths of Panamanians recruited to fight in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine are reported.  According to Vice Foreign Minister Carlos Hoyos Boyd, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has registered only one death. However, the former director of the National Border Service (Senafront), Oriel Ortega, stated that he was aware of Panamanians who died and disappeared during the war, including two young men from Chiriquí.

The Foreign Ministry is Monitoring Panamanians Recruited for the Conflict Between Russia and Ukraine

The Foreign Ministry called on citizens to remain vigilant regarding job offers abroad that may be linked to armed conflicts. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MIRE) maintains constant monitoring of the situation of Panamanian citizens recruited to participate in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.  As part of the follow-up, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has repeatedly requested information from the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Panama and has undertaken diplomatic efforts with Russian authorities through the Panamanian Embassy in Moscow. In response, Russian authorities stated that the signed contracts are voluntary and reflect an individual decision by the signatories. 

Similarly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested information on Panamanians from the Ukrainian Embassy in Panama and initiated proceedings through the Panamanian Embassy in Poland, which is accredited to the Ukrainian government. The Ministry continues its investigations to clarify the circumstances of these recruitments and offer the necessary consular assistance to the affected Panamanian citizens.  Finally, the Foreign Ministry called on citizens to remain vigilant regarding job offers abroad that may be linked to armed conflicts, which represent a serious risk to life.  To receive consular assistance related to this situation, the following telephone lines are available:

• +507 6330-6252
• +507 6371-8485

Panama Confirms 15 Citizens Recruited for the War Between Russia and Ukraine; One Death Reported

Vice Chancellor Carlos Arturo Hoyos reported that Panama has a record of 15 citizens recruited for the war between Russia and Ukraine.  Panama’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Arturo Hoyos, confirmed that the government has records of 15 Panamanian citizens who were recruited to participate in the war between Russia and Ukraine.  He also reported one death and several missing persons.  The statements were made after Panamanian authorities had been monitoring these cases since late 2025, in coordination with the Russian diplomatic representation and the Panamanian mission in Moscow. 

 

Russia-Ukraine War: Panama is Monitoring the Cases from 2025

Hoyos explained that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been aware of these situations since November 2025 and that, since then, efforts have been made to obtain information about the Panamanian citizens involved. 

“Since November 2025 we have been aware of these cases and since then we have been requesting information from both the Russian embassy in Panama and through our mission in Moscow, including face-to-face meetings, and we have received information of various kinds about the people who are there,” the deputy foreign minister said.

Some Panamanians May Have Been Deceived

The official noted that the cases are diverse and that, while some people traveled with full knowledge that they would participate in the armed conflict, others claim to have been deceived regarding the work they would perform.  “The stories are a bit of everything. There are people who knew exactly what they were getting into, and others who feel they were deceived into thinking they were going to work as private security or moving heavy machinery,” Hoyos explained.  So far, Panamanian authorities are maintaining diplomatic efforts to obtain updated information on the situation of citizens who remain in the conflict zone.