Indonesia probes reports of nationals serving in Russian military during Ukraine war

Jakarta, August 31 — Indonesia is currently investigating allegations that "several" of its nationals have enlisted in the Russian military and are participating in the conflict in Ukraine. The claims originated from Ukrainian authorities and are being confirmed by multiple Indonesian ministries and government agencies. The Jakarta foreign ministry issued a statement confirming the ongoing investigation but declined to disclose the exact number of suspected Indonesian citizens.

If the allegations prove true, Indonesian soldiers could face the loss of their citizenship due to a law that mandates prior presidential consent for serving in a foreign military.

The ministry emphasized that if the involvement of Indonesian citizens in foreign armed forces is confirmed, it would be an individual action and not reflect the government's stance or policy. Indonesia has not historically been a major source of mercenaries for either Russia or Ukraine, which have both enlisted foreign fighters throughout the war.

However, the foreign ministry has stated that further verification of the identity, citizenship status, recruitment process, and involvement of the individuals involved is necessary.

The ministry also indicated that the Indonesian government will look into potential instances of fraud, exploitation, or recruitment through deceptive job offers that are not aligned with the intended purpose. Recent reports suggest that citizens from African countries have allegedly been conscripted into the Russian army to fight in Ukraine after being promised jobs abroad and then forced into service.