Key facts
- Ukraine's I Want to Live project said the captured man, 49 and from Java, reached Ukrainian-held territory after a drone attack.
- The project said 283 Indonesians were recruited in the first nine months of 2026, against no more than 10 in the previous three years.
- Indonesian foreign ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang said Jakarta asked Moscow to ensure no Indonesians are recruited into its military.
- Indonesian police said they identified a trafficking syndicate that promised jobs in logistics, border security and defense construction.
- Kenya's intelligence services reported in February that more than 1,000 Kenyans had been lured to fight for Russia.
Ukraine said it captured its first Indonesian prisoner of war, a 49-year-old man from Java, according to Ukraine's state-run I Want to Live project. The project said the man was taken to Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region to take part in a Russian assault and reached Ukrainian-held territory after his group came under drone attack.
The project said 283 Indonesians were recruited in the first nine months of 2026 to fight for Russia, against no more than 10 in the previous three years. The Russian embassy in Jakarta did not immediately respond to questions about the alleged recruitment effort.
Russia has sought foreign fighters before. In February, Kenya's intelligence services reported that more than 1,000 Kenyans had been lured to fight for Russia, and people from African countries including Kenya, Uganda and South Africa have been drawn to the frontline as Russia seeks help to sustain its war, which began with the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Jakarta urged Moscow to ensure no Indonesians were drafted into its military, following the reported death in October of an Indonesian national serving with the Russian military. Indonesian foreign ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang said: "The Indonesian government asked the Russian government to take all necessary steps to ensure that no Indonesians will be recruited into the Russian military or any other military-related position in Russia through any avenues." She said Indonesia was particularly concerned about recruitment practices that could constitute human trafficking.
Days later, Indonesian police said they had identified a human trafficking syndicate targeting its nationals through social media and messaging apps. The posts promised jobs in logistics, border security and defense construction, but applicants who traveled to Russia were directed to sign contracts to serve as mercenaries, with some deployed to conflict zones, police said.