1ST BATCH OF SOUTH AFRICAN MEN LURED TO FIGHT FOR RUSSIA IN UKRAINE RETURNS HOME

Thu 19 February 2026:

Four South African men lured to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine returned to their country Wednesday, national broadcaster SABC reported.

Nineteen South African men were reportedly lured to travel to Russia for jobs last July but ended up fighting alongside Russian troops in the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

The four men landed past 4 pm local time (1400GMT) at OR Tambo International Airport near Johannesburg. SABC aired footage of their arrival and said they would be processed by the South African police.

Last November, the South African police launched an investigation into allegations that Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, former President Jacob Zuma’s daughter, had lured the South African men into traveling to Russia to fight alongside Russian troops in the ongoing war.

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According to reports, men between the ages of 20 and 39 were lured to Russia with job opportunities but were instead enrolled in the army and sent to the front lines of a war they did not want to fight.

In late November, South African police arrested four men who were on their way to Russia via the United Arab Emirates on suspicion of joining a foreign military.

South African law prohibits citizens and residents from participating in unauthorized foreign military activities or mercenary work.

Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said Wednesday that he hopes the remaining group of South African men will return home safely.

On Feb. 10, President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke by phone with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and discussed the process of returning South Africans fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, according to a statement by the presidency.

-Source: AA

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