Russia Rejects Claims Indonesians Joined Its Armed Forces, Accuses Ukraine of Disinformation

Dragon Media News Desk

The Russian Embassy in Indonesia has rejected claims by the Ukrainian Embassy in Jakarta that at least eight Indonesian citizens who travelled to Russia later joined the Russian Armed Forces, describing the allegations as part of a propaganda-driven disinformation campaign.

The Russian side said copies of e-visas and migration cards published by the Ukrainian Embassy do not constitute evidence that the individuals joined military service. According to the Russian Embassy, the documents were issued for tourist travel only.

The embassy, in turn, accused Ukraine of actively recruiting foreign nationals into its military formations. It claimed that heavy battlefield losses had pushed Kiev to rely increasingly on foreign personnel.

The Russian statement also alleged that Ukrainian authorities have discussed the possibility of foreigners eventually making up between 30 and 50 percent of the country’s armed forces.

Moscow further accused Ukraine of using deceptive recruitment methods through diplomatic missions and affiliated organizations abroad. It claimed that tens of thousands of foreign nationals are currently serving in Ukrainian military formations and that several thousand have been killed, including some Indonesian citizens.

The Russian Embassy also rejected Ukrainian claims regarding compliance with international humanitarian law and humane treatment of prisoners of war.

It alleged that many Russian prisoners of war who returned through prisoner exchanges reported torture, abuse and cruel treatment while in Ukrainian captivity.

The embassy argued that the timing of the Ukrainian allegations was politically motivated, noting that they coincided with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s participation in the 11th Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.

According to the Russian side, the campaign was intended to damage relations between Russia and Indonesia.