Russia finds new source of 'cannon fodder' on Indonesian islands, intelligence says

Why the Kremlin needs foreign mercenaries

Ukrainian intelligence obtained documents on at least eight Indonesian citizens who were recruited into the Russian armed forces by Russian recruiters.

For the Russian regime, each foreign mercenary serves several purposes at once:

• Helps offset personnel losses on the front line.
• Creates a propaganda image of global support for the war against Ukraine.
• Reduces the need for domestic mobilization, as dissatisfaction with the war and the socio-economic situation is growing inside Russia, with the level of discontent reaching 69%.

Recruitment scheme and geography

The Kremlin has already developed a recruitment system that it uses in many countries.

Recruiters lure candidates with promises of high payments, expedited Russian citizenship, social benefits and non-combat jobs.

In most cases, foreigners do not even realize where they are being sent.

Once they arrive in Russia, they are immediately sent to the front without proper training, where many are killed within the first few weeks.

The Kremlin has previously used a similar model to recruit citizens of Nepal, Cuba, Kenya and India.

How Russia searches for cannon fodder

Russia is facing a severe personnel shortage and growing discontent at home.

To make up for battlefield losses, the Kremlin regime is actively recruiting foreigners and using coercive methods to mobilize its own population.

Earlier, recruiters from Russia stepped up efforts to target students, luring them into the war against Ukraine supposedly for service in drone units.

In addition, Russia has begun testing forced mobilization of civilians directly from the streets. In particular, cases have been recorded in Omsk where men were taken from the streets and pressured into signing contracts with the Russian Defense Ministry.