South Africa secures return of 11 men lured' into Russia-Ukraine war

"South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his heartfelt gratitude to President Vladimir Putin, who responded positively to his call to support the process of returning the men home, the presidency said in a statement. Ramaphosa said the repatriations had been facilitated through diplomatic channels following a commitment by Putin earlier this month."

"In recent months, reports have surfaced from African countries, including South Africa, Kenya and Zimbabwe, about young men fraudulently recruited for work abroad, only to end up on the front lines in Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine's foreign minister said in November that more than 1,400 citizens from 36 African countries had been identified among the Russian ranks."

"A group of 11 South African men who were lured into fighting for Russia in Ukraine will return home, the country's presidency has said. Pretoria said late last year that it had received distress calls from 17 men who were trapped in the epicentre of the fiercest ongoing fighting in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region after being tricked into joining mercenary forces."

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the return of 11 men who were deceived into joining Russian mercenary forces in Ukraine's Donbas region. Four men had already returned home, with 11 more expected soon, while two others remain in Russia undergoing processing. Ramaphosa expressed gratitude to President Putin for facilitating the repatriations through diplomatic channels. South African law prohibits citizens from fighting for foreign militaries without authorization. An investigation into the recruitment circumstances continues. This situation reflects a broader pattern across African nations, including Kenya and Zimbabwe, where young men have been fraudulently recruited for combat roles in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

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