Indonesia Investigating Reports of Citizens Recruited Into Russian Military

Aug. 31, 2026 A military recruitment office for contract service in Moscow. Arthur Novosiltsev / Moskva News Agency Indonesian authorities are verifying Ukrainian claims that at least eight of its citizens have been recruited to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, media reported Monday. Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SZRU) last week published scans of seven e-visa applications and one migration card it said belonged to Indonesian men who had allegedly enlisted in the Russian military. “Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim country with a population of over 280 million, has joined the list of countries that the Kremlin has turned into yet another source of cheap manpower for the war,” SZRU said in a statement Thursday. According to the Jakarta Globe, Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Yvonne Mewengkang said officials were cross-checking the information with its diplomatic missions and other ministries. “Further confirmation is required regarding the individuals’ identities, citizenships, recruitment process, and the nature of their involvement,” she was quoted as saying. Yvonne said Indonesian authorities would also look into whether the recruits fell victim to fraudulent job postings or human trafficking, in which case Jakarta would take steps to protect the eight men identified by Ukraine. If confirmed to be voluntary recruitment, the men could have their citizenship revoked under Indonesian law. Ukraine’s SZRU said Russia has similar recruitment schemes involving promises of high pay, non-combat assignments and expedited Russian citizenship with citizens of Nepal, Cuba, Kenya and India. Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest economy, maintains a neutral foreign policy, refusing to take sides in the Ukraine war. Yvonne stressed that the actions of individual citizens do not reflect Indonesia’s foreign policy or its neutral stance on the conflict. The Kremlin said last week that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will be the main foreign guest at Russia's Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on Sept. 1-4. Prabowo visited Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin in July 2024. Jakarta has maintained billion-dollar trade ties with Moscow, but major arms imports have stalled in recent years following Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Read more about: Indonesia , Russian military , Ukraine war Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more ‘Provincial, Naive and Willfully Ignorant’: Russians Lured to War With Fake Job Ads Dozens of ads seeking “drivers, security guards and construction workers in the rear” have reportedly appeared on platforms like Avito since at least... 2 Min read Russia Has ‘Strategic Initiative’ Along Eastern Front Line, Putin Says The Kremlin leader called 2024 a “landmark year in achieving the goals of the special military operation.” 1 Min read In First, Russia Jails 2 Soldiers for ‘Failure to Prevent’ Ukrainian Strike – Kommersant A Russian military court found the officers guilty of "violating the rules of combat duty to repel an unexpected attack on Russia." 1 Min read Turkey to Take Part in New Ukraine Peace Talks – Zelensky President Erdogan will join next round of talks to end the Ukraine conflict in Malta on October 28-29 1 Min read