Ukraine says it has captured its first Indonesian prisoner of war, amid growing concerns over the recruitment of foreign nationals to fight alongside Russian forces.
The prisoner, a 49-year-old man from Indonesia’s Java island, was reportedly deployed to fight in a Russian assault in the Zaporizhzhia region.
According to Ukraine’s I Want to Live project, the man was captured after his group came under a drone attack and he reached Ukrainian-controlled territory.
The initiative claims that 283 Indonesians were recruited to fight for Russia during the first nine months of 2026. This represents a significant increase compared with no more than 10 recruits recorded throughout the previous three years.
The development has raised concerns in Indonesia, where authorities have urged Moscow to prevent the recruitment of Indonesian citizens into its military operations.
Indonesian police say they have identified a recruitment syndicate allegedly using social media platforms and messaging applications to advertise overseas employment opportunities.
The advertised positions reportedly included jobs in logistics, border security and construction. However, some individuals who travelled to Russia were allegedly directed to sign military contracts and subsequently sent to conflict zones.
Russia has also recruited individuals from other African countries, including Kenya, Uganda and South Africa, according to the report.
The alleged recruitment practices have raised questions about the exploitation of foreign jobseekers, particularly individuals who may have travelled abroad expecting civilian employment.
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