Ukraine Says Russia Sent at Least 283 Indonesians to War in Nine Months. One Prisoner’s Story Shows How
- Ukraine captured its first Indonesian prisoner of war, a 49-year-old man from Java apprehended in the Zaporizhzhia region after a drone strike on his Russian unit.
- Indonesian police identified a human trafficking syndicate recruiting citizens through social media, contributing to roughly 283 Indonesian nationals enlisted to support Moscow's war effort during the first nine months of this year.
- Kyiv's "I Want to Live" surrender initiative facilitated the capture, while Ukrainian figures published October 22 show Russia recruited 45,959 foreign nationals from 151 countries, up from 27,407 on March 30.
- Indonesia's foreign ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang asked Russia to "take all necessary steps to ensure that no Indonesians will be recruited into the Russian military," citing human trafficking concerns.
- The Russian embassy in Jakarta rejected the claims on September 4, calling them a "propaganda-driven disinformation campaign" and stating tourist documents "certainly do not constitute evidence of joining military service.
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A GROWING number of people from African countries, including Kenya, Uganda and South Africa, as well as other parts of the world, are ending up on the battlefield after being lured by offers to go to Russia.
Ukraine has reportedly captured the first Indonesian soldier to fight on the Russian side. This information, if true, confirms allegations that Russia is recruiting fighters from Asian countries for its army. Indonesians in particular are allegedly offered well-paid jobs by criminal groups, and when they arrive, they are sent to the Ukrainian front.
The Independent
The Independent (US)Ukraine captures first Indonesian prisoner of war trying to join Russian assault
The man was taken to the Zaporizhzhia region in southern Ukraine to join a Russian assault but reached Ukrainian-held territory after his group came under drone attack
Russia is increasingly recruiting fighters abroad for its war of aggression, probably also under compulsion. Now the Ukrainian forces on the front have apparently taken an Indonesian prisoner for the first time.
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