8 Indonesian Citizens Allegedly Joined Russian Military, BIN Responds
The Head of the Indonesian National Intelligence Agency (BIN RI), Muhammad Herindra, stated that his agency will further investigate the allegations regarding eight Indonesian citizens (WNI) who have reportedly joined the Russian military as mercenaries.
“We will investigate this further,” Herindra said at the DPR Building, Central Jakarta, as reported on Thursday, 3 September 2026. He added that the news concerning the eight Indonesian citizens serving as Russian mercenaries has become a serious concern for the government.
“It is certainly receiving attention,” said Herindra.
The Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, revealed the chronology of how the eight Indonesian citizens became Russian mercenaries. According to Dasco, the eight individuals initially applied for job vacancies as security personnel and administrative staff. This recruitment was opened by a third-party nation.
The eight Indonesians applied for these positions because they offered high salaries. “We have received information from our intelligence authorities that the recruitment of soldiers was subsequently carried out by a third-party nation,” Dasco stated at the DPR Building, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday, 1 September 2026.
“It was presented as if they were vacancies for security units or administrative staff, lured by the promise of large salaries,” he continued.
However, Dasco noted that the eight Indonesians were subsequently sent to serve as Russian mercenaries. “These Indonesian citizens applied, and from there, they were ultimately sent to become soldiers. That is the information we have received,” he explained.
Dasco further noted that Indonesian intelligence authorities and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu RI) are currently coordinating with relevant parties regarding the matter. “At this time, intelligence authorities and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have taken anticipatory measures, are coordinating, and have sent envoys to the countries involved,” Dasco clarified.