Ukraine’s state-run I Want to Live project announced the capture of a 49-year-old Indonesian national from Java who was brought to the Zaporizhzhia region to participate in a Russian military operation. The individual managed to reach Ukrainian-held territory following a drone attack on his unit and was subsequently captured by Ukrainian forces.
According to the project, recruitment efforts targeting Indonesians have intensified significantly. Approximately 283 Indonesians were recruited during the initial nine months of this year to serve in Russian military operations against Ukraine, representing a dramatic increase from recruitment levels in previous years, when fewer than 10 Indonesians were reportedly enlisted annually.
The Russian embassy in Jakarta has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the recruitment allegations. This development aligns with a broader pattern of Russia seeking foreign personnel to sustain military operations following its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Earlier reporting indicated that Kenya’s intelligence services documented recruitment of over 1,000 Kenyans, while growing numbers of individuals from African nations and other regions have been drawn into the conflict.
Indonesian officials have expressed concern about these recruitment practices. Following the reported death of an Indonesian national serving with Russian military forces in October, Jakarta formally requested that Moscow prevent further recruitment of Indonesian citizens. Indonesian police subsequently identified human trafficking networks operating through social media and messaging applications, which lured recruits with promises of positions in logistics, border security, and construction before directing them to sign military contracts, with some deployed to active conflict zones.
The I Want to Live initiative, established in September 2022 by Ukraine’s coordination headquarters for prisoners of war with support from the defence ministry and defence intelligence agency, provides a mechanism for active-duty personnel—including foreign nationals serving in Russian military roles—to surrender safely and exit combat operations.
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