Russia recruits Indonesians for war against Ukraine, intelligence says

The Kremlin has reportedly enlisted at least eight Indonesian nationals into its military to combat in Ukraine, according to Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service. This recruitment tactic aims to bolster the Russian invasion force and provide propaganda evidence of global backing for the war. The growing dissatisfaction with Russia's socioeconomic issues, the ongoing war, and the potential for a new mobilization wave has led to a decreasing number of Russians willing to join the military, prompting the Kremlin to seek new "cannon fodder" from foreign countries, as stated by Ukrainian intelligence.

Foreign nationals are offered attractive incentives such as high payments, noncombat positions, simplified paths to Russian citizenship, and social benefits. However, many recruits are unaware that they may ultimately be deployed to the front lines. Russia has previously employed a similar strategy to recruit citizens from Nepal, Cuba, Kenya, and India, with some being sent to the front without proper military training, resulting in fatalities within weeks of their arrival.

In April 2025, an independent Russian source cited leaked data from the Unified Medical Information and Analytical System, revealing that mercenaries from at least 48 countries were fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, with over 1,500 foreign nationals possibly recruited in Moscow alone between April 2023 and May 2024. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reported in April 2026 that more than 300 foreign soldiers serving on Russia's side have been detained in Ukraine.