Jakarta. Indonesian police have uncovered suspected human trafficking operations in which job seekers were lured by promises of lucrative overseas employment, only to discover that they were being recruited to fight for Russia in its war against Ukraine.

The alleged victims included civilians as well as former members of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police, Brigadier General Nurul Azizah, director of human trafficking crime enforcement, said Monday.

"Those recruited were not only civilians but also former military and police personnel," Nurul told reporters in Jakarta.

She said recruiters concealed the true nature of the jobs, initially advertising positions unrelated to military service, including logistics work.

The recruits were allegedly informed only later that the offers involved joining Russian forces.

Recruits Faced Financial Pressure to Accept
Senior police investigator Chief Commissioner Yolanda Evalyn Sebayang described a recruitment scheme uncovered in a case handled by Bogor police, which involved 22 identified victims and two suspects.

According to Yolanda, the suspects posted job advertisements on social media offering various types of employment abroad, promising substantial salaries.

Interested applicants were directed to online registration forms before being contacted and collected by the recruiters.

However, the true nature of the employment was allegedly disclosed only after the applicants arrived at meeting locations arranged by the recruiters.

"They were then told that the job being offered was actually to become mercenaries in Russia," Yolanda said.

The applicants were given the option of continuing with the recruitment process or rejecting the offer once they learned it involved military service.

Those who agreed were asked to sign agreements covering their departure for Russia.

However, Yolanda said applicants who declined were required to reimburse transportation expenses incurred in bringing them to the recruitment location.

Investigators suspect that the repayment demand was intended to pressure applicants into accepting the military recruitment offer rather than returning home.

The arrangement is among the suspected coercive recruitment practices being examined by police.

Police Identify 58 Victims, 13 Suspects
Police are currently investigating five reports involving suspected recruitment of Indonesians for Russian military service from several regions of the country.

Across the five cases, investigators have identified 58 alleged victims and named 13 suspects.

Authorities have urged Indonesians seeking employment abroad to exercise caution when responding to advertisements that do not clearly explain job responsibilities, work locations, or departure arrangements.

Police warned that offers of unusually high salaries, particularly those circulated through social media without transparent recruitment procedures, could expose applicants to human trafficking and other forms of exploitation.

The investigation comes amid growing concern over the recruitment of Indonesian nationals into Russian military formations involved in the war in Ukraine.

Indonesia has separately urged Russia to prevent its citizens from being recruited into military service, following reports that an Indonesian national was killed while fighting in Ukraine.

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