Russian Mercenary Trafficking Victims Received Only One Month of Training Before Deployment

Jakarta — The Criminal Investigation Department’s Directorate for Crimes against Women and Children and Human Trafficking (Dittipid PPA-PPO) has revealed that victims of human trafficking recruited as Russian mercenaries received only one month of training before being sent to the battlefield.

Commissioner Yolanda Evalyn Sebayang, head of Subdirectorate 3 at the directorate, said the information emerged during an investigation into police report LP A 8/X/2026/SPKT/Dittipid PPA-PPO, which currently involves five victims.

She said recruits were required only to submit photographs of their passports or identity cards and received no training during recruitment. Candidates were to be trained only after arriving at a camp in Russia.

“Once they arrived in Russia, they were given only a medical examination. Age did not matter; they just had to be healthy. After arriving and being found fit, they would immediately sign a contract, train for one month and then be sent straight to the battlefield,” she said.

The victims were also reportedly promised a joining bonus of 2,600 roubles, equivalent to around Rp620 million, and a salary of 230 roubles per month.

The victims travelled on tourist visas rather than work visas. A Russian agent arranged and paid for their visas and air tickets.

Yolanda said one suspect, identified by the initials MI, was named in the police report. MI was responsible for providing information about job vacancies, recruiting candidates, and directing and processing the victims’ departures.

MI allegedly received a commission of 1,000 roubles, paid into a crypto-asset wallet.

“The suspect established a tiered recruitment network, with commissions of 1,000 roubles, although some received only 500 roubles per candidate. Payments were made by bank transfer and through crypto assets,” she said.

MI has been charged under Article 4 of Law No. 21 of 2007 on the Eradication of Human Trafficking and/or Article 81 of Law No. 18 of 2017 on the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers.

Yolanda said five victims had been identified so far, but the number could increase as the investigation progresses.

“The number of victims is still growing because we have received reports from other victims who were recruited by the same person,” she said.