Ukraine’s intelligence: Russia is running its Nepal, Cuba, Kenya, and India recruitment scheme in Indonesia now

Kyiv's Foreign Intelligence Service (FSB) claims that Russia is now targeting Indonesia for its recruitment scheme aimed at foreign fighters for its occupation army. According to the FSB, at least eight Indonesian citizens have been recruited into the Russian forces. Since February 2022, Russia has recruited a total of 27,000 foreign nationals from over 130 countries, with up to 20% of these fighters not surviving the first four months of service.

The recruitment scheme relies on false promises, including high pay, non-combat work, fast-tracked Russian citizenship, and social guarantees. The FSB states that this model has been previously used to recruit citizens from Nepal, Cuba, Kenya, and India, with most of these individuals ending up on the front lines without proper training and some dying within weeks of arriving.

The recruitment scheme serves three purposes for the Kremlin: filling personnel gaps on the battlefield, propagandizing global support for the war, and addressing domestic discontent over the economy, the war, and plans for new mobilization. With Indonesia serving as the latest example of Russia's strategy for acquiring cheap foreign mercenaries for the war effort, the FSB highlights the systemic approach employed by the Kremlin to maintain its military campaign.