Ukraine says it captured first Indonesian prisoner fighting for Russia; Jakarta presses Moscow

Indonesia's foreign ministry has asked Russia to stop recruiting Indonesians for military roles. The Guardian quoted a statement by ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang:

"The Indonesian government asked the Russian government to take all necessary steps to ensure that no Indonesians will be recruited into the Russian military or any other military-related position in Russia through any avenues."

Ukraine's account

Ukraine says it has captured its first Indonesian prisoner of war. The account comes from "I Want to Live", a project run by the Ukrainian state. According to the project, a 49-year-old man from Java was taken to Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region to take part in a Russian assault. His group came under drone attack. He then reached Ukrainian-held territory, where Ukrainian forces captured him.

The Guardian reported this account. The South China Morning Post (SCMP) also reported it and credited The Guardian. The SCMP called the man a "contract soldier". The Guardian's report does not use that term.

Both reports rely on the same origin: the Ukrainian project, which belongs to a party to the war. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not describe any independent confirmation. They do not include the man's name, his own account or the date of his capture. They do not describe any Indonesian government confirmation of his nationality or capture.

Background

According to The Guardian, Ukraine's coordination headquarters for prisoners of war set up "I Want to Live" in September 2022. Ukraine's defence ministry and defence intelligence agency (HUR) supported it. The project was designed to let people serving with Russian forces, including foreign nationals, surrender safely.

The Guardian also reported that an Indonesian national serving with the Russian military died in October. The reports do not give details of that death. The Guardian added that in February, Kenya's intelligence services reported that more than 1,000 Kenyans had been lured to fight for Russia.

What each side says

• Ukraine ("I Want to Live"): Some 283 Indonesians were recruited to fight for Russia in the first nine months of this year, compared with no more than 10 in the previous three years. The reports do not explain how these figures were compiled.
• Indonesian foreign ministry: According to The Guardian, Ms Mewengkang said Indonesia is particularly concerned about recruitment practices that could constitute human trafficking.
• Indonesian police: According to The Guardian, police have identified a human trafficking syndicate targeting Indonesians. It reportedly used social media and messaging apps to promise jobs in logistics, border security and defence construction. After applicants travelled to Russia, they were directed to sign contracts to serve as mercenaries. Some were deployed to conflict zones. The reports do not describe any arrests or charges.
• Russia: The Russian embassy in Jakarta did not immediately respond to questions from The Guardian. The reports do not include any response from the Russian government.

The SCMP's headline says the capture "sparks Jakarta crackdown". Its summary says Jakarta is stepping up online policing and warning citizens they could lose their nationality. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not give further details of these measures.

Analysis

The story raises questions about how foreign nationals end up in the war. It also shows how much of the picture depends on one party's information. The recruitment figures come from a Ukrainian state project, and the reports describe no independent check. If other sources confirm the figures, the issue could weigh on relations between Jakarta and Moscow and on Indonesia's efforts against trafficking. If they are not confirmed, the figures remain one side's claim. A response from Russia, Indonesian confirmation of the prisoner's identity, or further police action could each change how the case is understood.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.