8 Indonesians Allegedly Serving as Russian Mercenaries: What Does the DPR Say?

Deputy House Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad highlighted a Ukrainian intelligence report that claimed eight individuals believed to be Indonesian citizens had volunteered to become Russian mercenaries. Dasco revealed he received information suggesting a third nation recruited Indonesian soldiers and presented the offers as security roles or administrative positions, enticing candidates with high salaries.

These Indonesian citizens eventually became soldiers, according to Dasco at the Indonesian Parliament in Jakarta on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.

The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine (FISU) published a list of the eight suspected Indonesian mercenaries in Russia on August 27. The FISU communicated that they discovered the recruitment after acquiring copies of correspondence from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the Indonesians' visa processing. The FISU explained that this recruitment scheme, enticing foreign nationals with high salaries, non-combat duties, expedited Russian citizenship, and attractive social benefits, has been utilized by Russia and tested in numerous other countries.

The FISU stated that similar tactics have been employed with citizens of Nepal, Cuba, Kenya, and India. Most recruits were deployed on the front lines without any military training, and some perished within the first few weeks.