{
  "id": 19484783,
  "title": "Ukraine says Russia sent at least 283 Indonesians to war in nine months. One prisoner’s story shows how",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/ukraine-says-russia-sent-at-least-283-indonesians-to-war-in-nine",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-11T11:13:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Euromaidan Press",
    "slug": "euromaidan-press",
    "url": "https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/11/11/ukraine-says-russia-sent-at-least-283-indonesians-to-war-in-nine-months-one-prisoners-story-shows-how/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On 10 November, Ukraine's state-run I Want to Live project shared the story of Sukamto Ayok, a 49-year-old Indonesian from Blitar, Java, marking him as the first Indonesian captured by Russia during the war. This account aligns with the project's release on 30 October, which revealed that at least 283 Indonesians had joined Russia's military between January and September 2026, a significant increase from the ten or so who had previously fought in the previous three years.\n\nAccording to Ukraine's foreign intelligence, Russia entices recruits with lucrative pay and non-combat roles, a strategy it has previously employed in Nepal, Cuba, Kenya, and India. Indonesia has responded through diplomacy and a police investigation into the matter.\n\nSukamto's journey began when a former classmate offered him construction work in Russia on 27 May. He arrived in Moscow on 22 July, signing a one-year contract with Russia's Defense Ministry to serve in the 39th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade. It wasn't until 30 July, during a bus ride to occupied Donetsk, that he realized the true nature of his employment—a military role.\n\nUpon reaching the front lines, Sukamto and another Indonesian attempted to flee but were captured. He was forcibly tattooed with a number on his chest and, despite his lack of training, was deployed to Zaporizhzhia Oblast as part of an assault unit. After Ukrainian drones struck his group, Sukamto fled and eventually found refuge with Ukrainian forces.\n\nThe Indonesian government has reacted to this situation by urging Russia to halt the recruitment of its citizens. This came in response to reports from Ukraine's military intelligence on 26 October, which confirmed the death of a Jakarta taxi driver, Taufiq Muhammad, during his first battle. Earlier in September, Russia's Ambassador, Sergei Tolchenov, denied that Russia was recruiting soldiers in Indonesia.\n\nOn 2 November, Indonesian police announced five trafficking cases involving 58 victims, highlighting that some recruits were initially offered jobs related to logistics, border security, or defense construction, only to be steered into mercenary roles in Russia. Suspects include both Russian and Ukrainian nationals. Sukamto was in Ukrainian custody by October, when the POW Coordination Headquarters in Ukraine offered to allow a consular visit from Indonesia's ambassador.",
  "summary": "A 49-year-old from Java signed what he was told was a construction contract. Russia then sent him into an assault without training.",
  "key_points": [
    "Sukamto Ayok, a 49-year-old Indonesian, is the first captured by Russia during the war.",
    "Indonesia urges Russia to cease recruiting its citizens amid the conflict."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Russia's use of deceptive job offers to recruit foreign nationals into combat roles signals an expansion of its mercenary strategy to exploit economic vulnerabilities in Southeast Asian nations.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Baltic nations briefly issue drone alerts as Russia, Ukraine exchange strikes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/baltic-nations-briefly-issue-drone-alerts-as-russia-ukraine-exchange",
        "published": "2026-11-11T06:10:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Mainichi",
        "title": "Russia and Ukraine hold nearly 4 hours of US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/russia-and-ukraine-hold-nearly-4-hours-of-us-mediated-talks-in-abu",
        "published": "2026-11-11T06:30:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Maverick",
        "title": "Baltic nations briefly issue drone alerts as Russia, Ukraine exchange strikes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/baltic-nations-briefly-issue-drone-alerts-as-russia-ukraine-exchange-19470232",
        "published": "2026-11-11T09:00:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "First Indonesian POW fighting for Russia in Ukraine sparks Jakarta crackdown",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/first-indonesian-pow-fighting-for-russia-in-ukraine-sparks-jakarta",
        "published": "2026-11-11T09:13:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Russia and Ukraine hold a second day of US-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/russia-and-ukraine-hold-a-second-day-of-us-brokered-talks-in-abu-dhabi",
        "published": "2026-11-11T09:40:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "Russia, Ukraine start second day of US-led talks: Kyiv lead negotiator",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/russia-ukraine-start-second-day-of-us-led-talks-kyiv-lead-negotiator",
        "published": "2026-11-11T10:42:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "US, Russia and Ukraine start second day of Abu Dhabi peace talks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/us-russia-and-ukraine-start-second-day-of-abu-dhabi-peace-talks",
        "published": "2026-11-11T10:47:28.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}