Polri uncovers trafficking ring recruiting Indonesians for Russia war
Police are handling 5 reports involving 58 victims, while suspects offered bonuses of up to about Rp620 million.
Bareskrim Polri has uncovered a human trafficking case involving the recruitment of Indonesian citizens to serve as Russian mercenaries on the Ukraine battlefield. Nurul Azizah, director of the PPA and PPO criminal investigations unit at Bareskrim Polri, said police are handling five reports involving a total of 58 victims at Bareskrim, Polda Metro Jaya, Polres Metro Jakarta Barat, and Polres Bogor. In one case recorded on 21 Oktober 2026, investigators named MI a suspect in a case with five victims. According to police, MI offered a 2,600 ruble joining bonus, about Rp620 million, a monthly salary of 230 rubel, and free travel. Victims were asked to surrender their passports and IDs, travel on tourist visas, then undergo medical checks, sign contracts, receive one month of training, and be sent to the battlefield after arriving in Russia.