Ukraine's intelligence says Russia has extended its foreign recruitment scheme to Indonesia

Ukraine's foreign intelligence service has reported that Russia has expanded its recruitment scheme for foreign nationals to a new country — Indonesia. According to the agency, it holds documents confirming the involvement of at least eight Indonesian citizens recruited under this scheme.

The service notes that a similar pattern has already been documented in several other countries, including Nepal, Cuba, Kenya, and India. This suggests Indonesia is the latest addition to a recruitment model Russia has repeatedly applied elsewhere.

Context

The statement points to a broader, previously observed trend of Russia seeking new sources for recruitment beyond its own borders, expanding its geographic reach into countries across Asia, Latin America, and Africa. In this case, the key evidence cited is the documentation obtained by Ukraine's intelligence service, which confirms the involvement of at least eight Indonesian nationals.

Ukraine has not provided further details on how the recruitment is carried out or the specific role played by those involved. The disclosure is part of a broader series of intelligence reports in which Ukraine regularly publicizes information about Russian activities abroad, including efforts to draw personnel from countries outside the traditional sphere of Western influence.

Neither Russia nor Indonesia has yet issued an official response to the report.