Immigration reveals WNI Recruitment Modus for Russian Mercenaries

Dignant Immigration Ministry revealed a suspected WNI fraud leaving for Russia for a job, potentially a mercenary.

Updated: Oct 20, 2026, 3:31 PM 2 min read deublitz newsroom Negative

Directorate of the Immigration Ministry of Immigration and Corrections highlighted allegations of fraud against Indonesian citizens (WNI) leaving Russia with a job offer, but instead led to being a mercenary.

Director General Immigration Hendarsam Maranshop called some of them potentially a victim of human trafficking crimes.

"So, by the time they left there, the offer wasn't to be a soldier. That's the problem," said Hendarsam after the unveiling of APEC Business Travel Policy in Jakarta, Tuesday (20 / 10).

According to him, the WNI who have arrived in Russia can have trouble returning to Indonesia.

He said Immigration also highlighted the case of migrant workers who were suspected of exploiting, including the possibility of their passports being taken after in the state.

He also assesses TPPPO prevention needs to be done since upstream by handling economic, welfare, and job limitations that encourage people to look for jobs overseas.

One of the attempts to do is to empower the society in the TPPPO vulnerable areas through the Immigration Officer of the Village (FAMILY), including the food resistance program.

Besides, Hendarsam ensures Immigration is constantly on cyber patrol to prevent a potential recruit enraptured society.

Previously, Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service (FISU) released a list of the eight WNI's suspected to be recruited into Russian soldiers.

In a statement on August 27th, FISU called them suspected of high-paying, noncombat, Russian citizenship, as well as social benefits. The FISU claims most of the people recruited didn't know where they were being sent.

A while ago, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed information about the identity, state of citizenship, recruitment process, and the forms of WNI involvement still need to be confirmed. The government will also experience the possibility of fraud, exploitation, or recruitment through a job offer that does not match its true purpose.

Meanwhile, the Russian Ambassador for Indonesia Sergei Tolchenov denied the Russian Embassy being involved in recruiting foreign citizens to join the Russian armed forces.