Indonesia man recruited by Russia dies in Donetsk battle
Ukrainian intelligence says Taufiq Muhammad died almost immediately in his first fight after signing a one-year contract on 19 April 2026.
Ukraine's Defense Intelligence Directorate said an Indonesian citizen, Taufiq Muhammad, was killed while fighting alongside the Russian military in Russian-occupied Donetsk. According to Ukraine, the man, born in Sorong on 22 May 1978, died almost immediately in his first battle after about one and a half weeks of military training. Ukraine said Taufiq had previously lived in Surabaya, had worked as a taxi driver in Jakarta and as a manager at an agricultural company, and had also worked in the United States. He reportedly went to Moscow after being promised easy money and signed a one-year contract with the Russian army in Korolyov, Moscow region, on 19 April 2026. CNN Indonesia reported that the Indonesian Foreign Ministry had not confirmed the matter when the story was published.