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A Group of 17 South Africans Tricked Into Fighting Russia’s War in Ukraine
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Seventeen South African nationals were deceived into traveling to eastern Ukraine and compelled to take part in combat operations, according to a statement released by the South African government on November 6, as reported by Reuters.
The men, aged between 20 and 39, had reportedly been promised lucrative employment before finding themselves in the Donbas region, Reuters reported. President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered an investigation into how the individuals were recruited and who was responsible.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa instructed an investigation into the circumstances that led to the recruitment of these young men for what appears to be mercenary activity,” the government said in a statement quoted by Reuters.
Officials confirmed that the men are currently in distress and that efforts are underway through diplomatic channels to secure their return.
Vincent Magwenya, spokesperson for Ramaphosa’s office, stated that the president “strongly condemns the exploitation of vulnerable youth by individuals linked to foreign military structures.” Sixteen of the men are from KwaZulu-Natal Province, and one is from the Eastern Cape, according to BBC News.
South African law prohibits citizens from serving in foreign militaries or providing military assistance abroad without official government authorization.
The statement did not specify which side of the war the South Africans were fighting on. However, as Reuters have previously reported, Russia has been recruiting men from economically vulnerable countries—including India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Cuba—by offering high salaries and a fast-track to Russian citizenship.
Many recruits later find themselves coerced into signing contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense.
In August, the South African government issued a warning to young citizens, particularly women, about fraudulent job offers in Russia promoted through social media. The Ministry of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities said such recruitment campaigns were not connected to any official employment programs.
Earlier, Firstpost reported that dozens of Indian citizens were lured to Russia with false promises of high-paying jobs, only to be forced into fighting in Ukraine.
Families say the recruits were tricked into signing Russian-language military contracts and sent to the front lines with minimal training. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has raised concerns with Moscow and urged an immediate halt to the practice.
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