First Indonesian POW fighting for Russia in Ukraine sparks Jakarta crackdown

AI Summary

Ukraine has captured an Indonesian contract soldier fighting for Russia in the frontline Zaporizhzhia region, highlighting Jakarta’s difficulty preventing its citizens from being recruited into the war. Indonesia is responding with a crackdown on recruitment, while the captured 49-year-old reportedly entered Ukrainian-held territory after a drone strike on his unit.

Ukraine has captured its first Indonesian prisoner of war, exposing Jakarta’s uphill battle to stop its citizens from being recruited to fight for Russia in the war sparked by Moscow’s 2022 invasion. The 49-year-old contract soldier from Java was captured in the frontline Zaporizhzhia region after entering Ukrainian-held territory following a drone strike on his Russian unit, The Guardian reported, citing Kyiv’s state-backed “I Want to Live” surrender initiative. According to the project,...