Indonesia Tightens Oversight to Stop Russian Recruitemnt

Indonesia's Directorate General of Immigration is strengthening oversight at the earliest stage of recruitment to protect Indonesians from human trafficking and from being recruited as foreign combatants for Russia, state news agency Antara reported on October 20, 2026. Director General of Immigration Hendarsam Marantoko said Indonesians sent to Russia to serve as mercenaries are considered victims under the Constitution, while those who recruited them, along with their agents, will face legal action.

Lured by Civilian Jobs

Marantoko told reporters in Jakarta on Tuesday that victims are typically lured by promises of civilian jobs and then pressured or forced to stay abroad. "They are not recruited on the pretext of becoming soldiers," he said, adding that the difficulty comes after they arrive, when they struggle to return home. For that reason, he said, efforts to prevent trafficking must focus on the early stages of recruitment rather than on stepping in only after Indonesians run into problems overseas.

Three Ways to Disrupt the Networks

The agency is pursuing three approaches, according to Marantoko.

The first is empowering what it calls Immigration Awareness Villages. Immigration officers are sent to villages that are vulnerable to human trafficking to give counselling and to support economic programmes, including food security education and efforts to help young people find a livelihood in Indonesia.

The second is cyber patrols using technology. These are meant to improve the agency's ability to monitor and block illegal overseas job recruitment advertisements that circulate widely on social media.

The third is cross-border law enforcement, including identifying and prosecuting recruitment agents. Marantoko said the masterminds behind these operations are often based overseas and rely on local accomplices to recruit victims. Immigration is working with Interpol to pursue them.

A Safe Way Out

Indonesians and other foreign nationals lured into Russia's armed forces have an option to safely escape the battlefield with Ukraine's "I Want to Live" project. See our FAQ for recommendations for victims of Russian military recruitment and their families.