Indonesian Daily Republika Reports the List of 292 Indonesians in Russia's Army, and the Foreign Ministry Responds

Indonesia's Republika newspaper has picked up the list of 292 Indonesians who signed contracts with the Russian army, published on StopRussianRecruiters.org, and put questions to the Foreign Ministry. In a report on November 2, Republika wrote that it was trying to reach the ministry. On November 3, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang answered, telling Republika that the government has sent Moscow a formal request to stop the recruitment, Republika reported.

Republika Reads the List

Republika reported some of Stop Russian Recruiters' findings: at least 283 Indonesians went to fight in the first nine months of 2026, against no more than 10 in the previous three years, and the project says the real number is much higher.

The newspaper said it recognised three names on the list. Two of the men are alive, one of whom lost a finger to a drone and the other of whom sent Republika a text message the weekend before. The third, Satriya Arta Kumbara, a former Indonesian Navy Marine, has not been heard from for more than a year and is reported to have died on the front line.

What the Ministry Said

Mewengkang told Republika that the ministry is reviewing and verifying the reports with Indonesia's embassies in Moscow and Kyiv, and asked the public not to speculate. She said the government has made an official request to Russia through diplomatic channels to take the necessary steps so that no Indonesian is recruited into the Russian military or related formations by any route, and described the practice as indicative of human trafficking.

Jakarta has also asked that Indonesia be added to the list of countries whose citizens are exempt from Russian military recruitment, with effective and immediate implementation, she said. She urged Indonesians to verify overseas job offers with the authorities, to be wary of unusually high pay, not to sign contracts they do not understand, and to consider the safety risks and legal consequences of serving in a foreign military.

What Happened Earlier

Indonesia's ambassador to Ukraine, Arief Muhammad Basalamah, met Brigadier General Dmytro Usov, Secretary of Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, who discussed the involvement of Indonesians into Russia's military and called on Indonesia to act against Russian recruitment. Besides that, Indonesian police declared 13 suspects in a trafficking case over recruits for Russia's army.

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.