For the first time, Ukraine captured an Indonesian citizen sent by the Russian Federation to storm positions in Zaporizhia. In total, Russia recruited at least 292 Indonesians - in the previous three years there were no more than 10, writes the "Guardian" referring to the "I want to live" project.
49-year-old Sukamato Ayok from Java was promised a construction job in the Russian Federation, but eight days after arriving in Moscow, he discovered he had signed a contract with the Russian Federation's Ministry of Defense. He was sent to the 39th Assault Brigade.
Sukmato tried to escape, but he was arrested and an identification number was forcibly stamped on his chest. He was not trained. After the drone attack on his strike group, the man wandered for several days until he was captured.
Indonesia called on Moscow not to conscript its citizens after reports of the death in October of an Indonesian serving in the Russian army. The local police also uncovered a network of human trafficking: people were lured with promises of work in logistics, border guarding and construction, and after arriving in the Russian Federation they were offered military contracts.
Earlier, Kenya's intelligence reported that more than a thousand Kenyans were lured to fight for Russia. Among the recruits are also citizens of Uganda and South Africa.
In August, the GUR stated that the Russian Federation put permanent numbers on the skin or equipment of foreign mercenaries instead of military tokens. This is how the Russian security forces control them and look for defectors.