Indonesia has formally requested Russia to stop recruiting its citizens to serve as soldiers in its war in Ukraine, a move that follows a series of incidents including the reported death of a Jakarta taxi driver who was killed in battle in May.
Ukraine's Defense Intelligence last week reported that Taufiq Muhammad, a Jakarta taxi driver in his 40s, had died in Ukraine after taking a contract with the Russian military. He underwent about a week and a half of training before being deployed and was killed in battle in May. On Sunday, Indonesia made its formal request.
It is not the first time Indonesian citizens have been confirmed fighting for Russia. Last May a former Indonesian Marine joined the Russian military, later losing his citizenship. A former member of Indonesia's elite Brimob police unit was also confirmed to be fighting for Russia in January. In September a 30-year-old Indonesian man was reportedly killed in a drone strike in Ukraine. The Indonesian National Police said on Monday that cases involving 58 Indonesian citizens were being investigated by national and regional police authorities. Indonesia's ambassador in Russia, Jose Tavares, told media in September that he had taken dozens of calls from families who thought their relatives had been recruited.
Radityo Dharmaputra, an Indonesian academic who has researched the topic, called the government's response a necessary step, albeit ineffective. He said President Prabowo Subianto should appeal personally to Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop the recruiting, and should put pressure on Moscow publicly. He recommended cancelling cooperation if the recruiting does not halt, and stopping migrant workers going to Russia.
The problem extends beyond Indonesia. Data cited by the publication StopRussianRecruiters.org lists 44 Southeast Asians who surrendered as prisoners of war, including 16 Vietnamese, 14 Filipinos, and 10 Indonesians. Three Filipinos and a Vietnamese man have been reported killed fighting for Russia. The Philippines announced an investigation into illegal recruitment in October.
Munira Mustaffa, executive director of the Chasseur Group and a senior fellow at Verve Research, compared Russian recruitment tactics on social media to those used by criminal scam centres. She said many men were enticed to Russia with promises of blue-collar work, not expecting to serve on the front line. She called for an ASEAN-level response, warning that the deceptive practices could be replicated in other conflicts and offered a template for exploiting migrant labour.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The formal request tests Indonesia's diplomatic relationship with Russia and President Prabowo Subianto's non-aligned foreign policy stance.
- It puts the issue of deceptive war recruitment on the agenda of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which faces calls for a coordinated regional response.
- The case highlights a global pattern in which Russia has sought manpower from Asia, Africa and South Asia to sustain its war effort, drawing other nations into the conflict indirectly.
Background
Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has led to heavy casualties, prompting Moscow to recruit foreign fighters. Recruitment efforts have targeted countries across Asia and Africa, often using deceptive job advertisements promising security or labour work on social media. Several countries, including Kenya and Nepal, have previously protested such recruitment drives.
Key Perspectives
Indonesian government: Formally requested Russia to stop recruiting its citizens and is investigating 58 cases involving Indonesian nationals.
Radityo Dharmaputra: Called the government's request necessary but ineffective and recommended a direct personal appeal from President Prabowo to President Putin alongside public pressure and the threat of cancelling cooperation.
Munira Mustaffa: Described the recruitment as a deceptive and predatory practice comparable to scam centre tactics, and called for an ASEAN-level response to prevent the template from being used in other conflicts.
What to Watch
- Russia's official response to Indonesia's formal request and whether recruitment activities in the country continue.
- Whether President Prabowo Subianto follows expert recommendations with a direct appeal to Vladimir Putin or other public pressure.
- The potential for a coordinated ASEAN response, particularly as the Philippines has already announced its own investigation into illegal recruitment.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
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- SupportedIndonesia formally asked Russia to stop recruiting Indonesian citizens to serve in its war in Ukraine.Foreign Policy: “Then, on Sunday, Indonesia formally requested Russia to stop recruiting Indonesian citizens to serve as soldiers in its war in Ukraine.”
- SupportedThe move followed the reported death of a Jakarta taxi driver and comes amid broader concerns over deceptive recruitment.Foreign Policy: “The death reported last week was just the latest in a series of incidents.”
- SupportedUkraine’s Defense Intelligence reported last week that Taufiq Muhammad had died in Ukraine.Foreign Policy: “A Jakarta taxi driver in his 40s died in Ukraine after taking a contract to work for the Russian military, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence said last week. Taufiq Muhammad”
- SupportedTaufiq underwent about a week and a half of training before deployment.Foreign Policy: “Taufiq Muhammad had undergone about a week and a half of training before being deployed and then killed in battle in May.”
- SupportedTaufiq was killed in battle in May.Foreign Policy: “Taufiq Muhammad had undergone about a week and a half of training before being deployed and then killed in battle in May.”
- SupportedIndonesia made its formal request on Sunday.Foreign Policy: “Then, on Sunday, Indonesia formally requested Russia to stop recruiting Indonesian citizens to serve as soldiers in its war in Ukraine.”
- SupportedThe Indonesian National Police said cases involving 58 Indonesian citizens were being investigated by national and regional police authorities.Foreign Policy: “In a press conference on Monday, the Indonesian National Police said cases involving 58 Indonesian citizens were currently being investigated by national and regional police authorities.”
- SupportedAmbassador Jose Tavares said in September that he had received dozens of calls from families who thought relatives had been recruited.Foreign Policy: “In September, Indonesia’s ambassador in Russia, Jose Tavares, told media that he had taken dozens of calls from families who thought their relatives had been recruited into the Russian military.”
- SupportedRadityo Dharmaputra called the government’s response “a necessary step, albeit ineffective.”Foreign Policy: “called the Indonesian government’s response this week “a necessary step, albeit ineffective.””
- SupportedStopRussianRecruiters.org’s data lists 44 Southeast Asians, including 16 Vietnamese, 14 Filipinos and 10 Indonesians, who surrendered to become prisoners of war.Foreign Policy: “Data released by Ukraine and published by StopRussianRecruiters.org lists 44 Southeast Asians who had surrendered themselves to become prisoners of war. Of those listed, 16 are Vietnamese, 14 are Filipino, 10 are Indonesian”
- SupportedThree Filipinos and a Vietnamese man have been reported killed fighting for Russia.Foreign Policy: “There are also reports that three Filipinos and a Vietnamese man were killed fighting in Ukraine for Russia.”
- SupportedMunira Mustaffa said, “Many men were enticed to Russia with promises of blue-collar work, not expecting to serve on the front line.”Foreign Policy: ““Many men were enticed to Russia with promises of blue-collar work, not expecting to serve on the front line,” Munira said in an interview with me.”