South Africa secures return of 11 men ‘lured’ into Russia-Ukraine war | Russia-Ukraine war News
South African Men to Return After Being Recruited for Ukraine Conflict
A group of 11 South African men, who were reportedly misled into fighting for Russia in Ukraine, are set to return home, according to a statement from the South African presidency. The men were among 17 who contacted authorities last year for help after finding themselves trapped in the eastern Donbas region, a site of intense fighting.
Last week, four of these individuals returned to South Africa, with the remaining 11 scheduled to arrive shortly. Two others remain in Russia—one hospitalized and another in transit back to South Africa.
President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin for facilitating the repatriation process. The presidency noted that this follow-up came after Ramaphosa reached out for support earlier this month. “The repatriations were made possible through diplomatic channels,” the statement read.
An investigation is currently underway regarding how these men were recruited into mercenary activities. South African law prohibits its citizens from enlisting in foreign militaries without official government authorization.
Reports of fraudulent recruitment of young men across Africa to join the conflict have emerged in recent months, impacting countries such as Kenya and Zimbabwe. Ukraine’s foreign minister indicated in November that over 1,400 individuals from 36 African nations had been identified in Russian military ranks. The Kenyan National Intelligence Service reported that more than 1,000 Kenyans had been recruited, with 89 currently on the front lines.
In South Africa, authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the recruitment of the 17 men, with at least three individuals currently under scrutiny. This includes Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, who has denied any involvement but resigned from her parliamentary position following the allegations.
The South African government has stated that the men, aged between 20 and 39, initially accepted offers of lucrative employment, only to find themselves engaged in conflict. Thulani Mahlangu, a spokesperson and relative of one of the returned individuals, confirmed that the men were questioned by police upon their arrival but were subsequently released.
South Africa has maintained a position of non-alignment in the Ukraine conflict while nurturing its relations with Russia as part of the BRICS group, which includes Brazil, India, and China.
The Donbas region, encompassing Donetsk and Luhansk, remains a critical area of contention, heavily controlled by Russian forces. The ongoing conflict, intensified since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine four years ago, presents significant challenges to any prospective peace negotiations, as Moscow seeks full control of the region, which Kyiv is unwilling to concede due to constitutional prohibitions against territorial surrender.
