# Foreign recruitment into Russian military > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/foreign-recruitment-into-russian-military > Updated: 2026-09-11T14:37:32.000Z. Sources: 27. Developments: 6. Reports have emerged regarding the recruitment of foreign nationals into the Russian military to fight in Ukraine. An Equatorial Guinean student, Daniel Angel Masie Nchama, detailed how he was allegedly coerced into service after being promised military training for a bodyguard career. Nchama reported that recruits were forced to sign documents at gunpoint and had their passports confiscated. He described extreme conditions on the front lines in Donetsk. Ukrainian authorities estimate approximately 1,800 Africans have been recruited for Russian troops, with investigative groups noting hundreds of fatalities among these recruits. In Cameroon, individuals are reportedly lured by false promises of employment in construction or security. In Indonesia, the government is investigating reports from the Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service (FISU) alleging that at least eight Indonesian citizens have been recruited by Russia. These individuals were reportedly enticed by promises of high salaries, social benefits, and expedited Russian citizenship. FISU claims to possess documentation, including visa-related communications, identifying these individuals. Data indicates seven of the eight citizens reportedly obtained Russian visas earlier this year. Specific details have emerged regarding one individual, Wahyu Oktavian Iskandar, a resident of Depok, West Java, who reportedly held a Russian visa from April to August 2026. Local acquaintances described him as a civilian with no prior military training. Indonesian Coordinating Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra stated the government is investigating recruitment methods to determine if individuals joined voluntarily or were victims of deception. Deputy Minister for Migrant Worker Protection, Christina Aryani, noted that human trafficking status must be legally assessed. Meanwhile, Indonesian legislators are seeking clarity on the legal status and potential loss of citizenship for those involved. Expanding on these allegations, Amnesty International reports that citizens from Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Somalia, and South Africa have been held in Ukrainian prisoner-of-war camps. ## Claims - The Indonesian government is verifying information regarding the alleged involvement of Indonesian citizens in the Russian armed forces. (corroborated by 7 sources) - The Ministry is investigating potential fraud, exploitation, or deceptive job offers. (corroborated by 7 sources) - At least eight Indonesian citizens have been recruited to join Russian forces fighting in Ukraine. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Involvement in foreign militaries can lead to the loss of Indonesian citizenship. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Recruits are often lured with false promises of jobs in construction, security, or logistics before being deployed to conflict zones. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The eight identified individuals include Yuda Putra Pratama, Haryanto Dwi Kencana, Erwanda, Ngangun Hudri Fadli, Muhammad Syaripudin, M Hadi Maulana, Wahyu Oktavian Iskandar, and Helmi Nuraha Hakim. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The Indonesian government is verifying the identities, recruitment processes, and involvement of the 8 citizens. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Recruitment of foreigners helps Russia fill personnel shortages without conducting open domestic mobilization. (corroborated by 2 sources) - By May, approximately 3,000 citizens from various African nations had fought or were fighting for Russia. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The Cameroonian government confirmed that Russia notified them of the deaths of 16 Cameroonian citizens. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Seven of the 16 notified Cameroonian deaths occurred during military actions in Ukraine. (corroborated by 2 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-11: Russia accused of deceiving foreign nationals into military service Foreign nationals are reportedly being deceived into joining the Russian military, while Ukraine monitors a potential Russian offensive involving elite units in the Zaporizhzhia region. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/russia-accused-of-deceiving-foreign-nationals-into-military-service ### 2026-09-04: Indonesia citizens reportedly recruited by Russian military Ukraine's intelligence service claims eight Indonesian citizens have been recruited into the Russian military, prompting calls for the Indonesian government to verify the facts. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/indonesia-citizens-reportedly-recruited-by-russian-military ### 2026-09-02: Indonesia investigates 8 citizens reportedly joining Russian military Indonesia is verifying reports that eight of its citizens have joined the Russian military, investigating whether they were recruited through deception or are victims of human trafficking. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/indonesia-verifies-reports-of-8-citizens-joining-russian-military ### 2026-08-31: Russia uses deceptive recruitment in Africa and Latin America for Ukraine war Russia is recruiting fighters from Africa and Latin America using deceptive job offers in construction and security to fuel its war in Ukraine, often promising citizenship and high wages that never arrive. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/russia-recruits-fighters-from-africa-and-asia-via-deceptive-job-offers ### 2026-08-30: Indonesia investigates reports of citizens joining Russian military Indonesia is verifying reports from Ukrainian intelligence that at least eight Indonesian citizens have been recruited into the Russian military to fight in Ukraine, potentially via deceptive job offers. 14 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ukrainian-intelligence-claims-8-indonesians-recruited-by-russia ### 2026-08-10: Equatorial Guinean student details forced recruitment into Russian military An Equatorial Guinean student describes being coerced into joining the Russian military under false pretenses and fighting on the front lines in Ukraine. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/equatorial-guinean-student-details-forced-recruitment-into-russian-military --- Cite as: Foreign recruitment into Russian military. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/foreign-recruitment-into-russian-military