The Russian Federation continues its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine in blatant violation of the UN Charter and the fundamental principles of international law, including through attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, and the use of prohibited methods and means of warfare.

Russia’s total disregard for international law and human life is also reflected in its recruitment of foreign nationals to compensate for battlefield losses. Foreign recruits may be misled by offers of employment, education, financial benefits or non-combat duties, only to be deployed on dangerous frontline missions and effectively abandoned if captured, wounded or reported missing.

According to the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, documents have been obtained concerning at least eight Indonesian nationals recruited into the Russian armed forces. The circumstances of their recruitment are being established, and some may themselves have become victims of misleading information, manipulation or coercion.

The Embassy urges Indonesian citizens to exercise extreme caution regarding employment, education or military-related offers connected with Russia. Those who knowingly and voluntarily join Russian forces to participate in the war against Ukraine may also face legal consequences under applicable law.

In the event that foreign nationals are taken as prisoners of war, Ukraine guarantees its commitment to international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions, and the humane treatment of all persons captured in connection with the armed conflict, irrespective of their nationality. 

Ukraine also stands ready to cooperate with the Government of Indonesia in order to prevent Indonesian nationals from being recruited into Russian occupational forces, gain access in cases of their capture as POWs, and address individual cases through applicable diplomatic, legal, and humanitarian channels.

No Indonesian citizen should become another victim of deceptive recruitment used to sustain Russia’s unlawful war against Ukraine.