World · Europe · 1 hr ago
Ukraine captures first Indonesian prisoner of war fighting for Russia
Ukraine says it captured its first Indonesian prisoner of war in the war against Russia.
The man, 49 and from Java, was taken in the Zaporizhzhia region after a drone attack on his Russian unit, according to Ukraine’s I Want to Live project.
The project says about 283 Indonesians were recruited in the first nine months of this year, compared with no more than 10 in the previous three years.
Indonesia has urged Russia to prevent its citizens from being recruited, and says it is concerned that some recruitment could amount to human trafficking.
Indonesian police say they identified a syndicate using social media and messaging apps to offer jobs before directing recruits to sign military contracts.
Police say some recruits were sent to conflict zones, while Ukraine’s I Want to Live initiative offers foreign nationals in Russia’s military a way to surrender and leave the battlefield.
Ukraine says it has captured its first Indonesian prisoner of war fighting for Russia.
The 49-year-old man from Java reached Ukrainian-held territory after a drone attack on his Russian unit in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Ukraine’s I Want to Live project says about 283 Indonesians were recruited to fight for Russia in the first nine months of 2026.
Indonesia has urged Moscow to ensure that no Indonesians are recruited into its military or related positions.
Indonesian police say they identified a human trafficking syndicate that recruited people with promises of jobs in Russia.
- Who
- A 49-year-old Indonesian man from Java, captured by Ukrainian forces.
- What
- Ukraine says it captured its first Indonesian prisoner of war fighting for Russia.
- When
- Not stated.
- Where
- The Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine.
- Why
- He was taken there to take part in a Russian assault. He reached Ukrainian-held territory after his unit came under a drone attack.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Ukraine established the I Want to Live initiative to enable troops, including foreign nationals in the Russian military, to surrender.
The I Want to Live project said about 283 Indonesians were recruited to fight for Russia.
An Indonesian national serving with the Russian military reportedly died.
Jakarta urged Moscow to ensure that no Indonesians were recruited into its military.
Indonesian police said they had identified a human trafficking syndicate targeting Indonesians for recruitment to Russia.
- Prisoner
- 49-year-old man from Java
- Capture location
- Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine
- Indonesian recruits
- About 283 in the first nine months of 2026
- Previous recruitment
- No more than 10 Indonesians in the previous three years, according to the I Want to Live project
- Initiative established
- September 2022
3 sources
What people are saying
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.