Ukraine Says Russia Recruited at Least Eight Indonesians for the War

Ukraine says Russia recruited at least eight Indonesians into its armed forces to help compensate for battlefield losses, raising a fresh warning in Jakarta about foreign citizens being drawn into the war.

The Ukrainian Embassy in Indonesia said documents obtained by Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service concerned at least eight Indonesian nationals recruited by the Russian military. It said the circumstances of their recruitment were still being clarified and that some may have fallen victim to misinformation, manipulation or coercion.

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According to the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, documents have been obtained concerning at least eight Indonesian citizens recruited by the Russian armed forces.

The statement followed Indonesia’s announcement that it was examining information from Ukrainian authorities about the suspected enlistment of several Indonesians in Russian ranks. Jakarta said possible cases could involve fraud, exploitation or recruitment through job offers that concealed the true nature of the work.

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There may have been cases of fraud, exploitation or recruitment through job offers that do not reflect the true nature of the work.

The Ukrainian embassy warned that foreign recruits may be promised employment, education, financial benefits or noncombat duties before being sent to dangerous frontline missions. They could then be left effectively abandoned if captured, wounded or reported missing. Kyiv urged Indonesians to be extremely cautious about offers involving work, education or military activities linked to Russia.

Ukraine and Indonesia also warned that Indonesians who knowingly and voluntarily join Russian forces to fight Ukraine could face legal consequences under applicable law. Ukraine says Russia’s recruitment of foreign fighters helps address shortages at the front and avoid a politically unpopular second mobilization. Moscow responds that foreign nationals sign contracts freely for financial reasons or out of solidarity. Panama, Peru, Ghana and Nepal are among the countries that have raised concerns about the recruitment of their citizens.

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Foreign recruits can be deceived with offers of employment, education, financial benefits or noncombat duties, and then deployed on dangerous frontline missions and effectively abandoned if they are captured, wounded or declared missing.