Intelligence Report: 8 Indonesian Citizens Recruited as Russian Soldiers via High-Paying Security Job Scams

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, stated that according to intelligence information, eight Indonesian citizens serving as Russian mercenaries were recruited by a third-party nation.

He noted that these Indonesian citizens were offered job vacancies by a third-party country for roles ranging from security guards to administrative staff. “We have received information from our intelligence authorities that the recruitment of these soldiers was carried out by a third-party nation, which presented these as vacancies for security personnel or administrative staff, lured by the promise of high salaries,” Dasco said at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Tuesday (1/9).

He explained that the Indonesian citizens subsequently applied and were ultimately sent to Russia to serve as soldiers. “These Indonesian citizens applied, and from there, they were eventually sent to become soldiers. That is the information we have received,” he added.

He stated that intelligence authorities and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have already taken anticipatory measures and are coordinating regarding the matter, including sending envoys to the relevant countries.

The Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service previously released a report on 27 August, which included the allegation that eight Indonesian citizens had become Russian mercenaries.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang stated that the government is currently monitoring the information and coordinating with local representatives. “The Indonesian government is currently verifying this information through Indonesian representatives abroad and is coordinating with relevant ministries and agencies,” Yvonne said in an official release on Monday (31/8).

Yvonne emphasised that Indonesia has clear legal provisions regarding the involvement of its citizens in the military service of foreign nations, including the consequences for their citizenship status. However, enforcement can only take place once the information and data have been verified according to legal procedures.

“If the involvement of Indonesian citizens in a foreign armed force is verified, it is an individual action and does not represent the policy or position of the Indonesian Government,” she concluded.