South African president thanks Putin after 17 men ‘lured’ to Russian front lines begin returning home

Fox News - WorldCenter-RightEN 2 min read 100% complete by Ashley CarnahanFebruary 24, 2026 at 08:14 PM

AI Summary

short article 2 min

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for assisting in the repatriation of 17 South African men who were allegedly lured to fight on the Russian front lines in Ukraine. The men, aged 20 to 39, reportedly made distress calls requesting assistance, prompting the South African government to work with Russian authorities to secure their return. According to Ramaphosa's office, the men were allegedly recruited into "mercenary activities," and the circumstances surrounding their recruitment are under investigation. As of Tuesday, four men have returned to South Africa, with eleven more expected to arrive soon, while two remain in Russia for medical treatment and travel processing. Ukraine estimates that over 1,400 foreign nationals from 36 African countries have been recruited by Russia, often through financial incentives, deception, and coercion.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Kenya 40% Andrii Sybiha ×250% Moscow ×260% Ukraine ×270% South Africa ×380% Vladimir Putin ×280% Cyril Ramaphosa ×490% Russia ×790%

Keywords

russia-ukraine war 90% south africa 80% foreign recruitment 80% foreign fighters 70% cyril ramaphosa 70% mercenary activities 70% vladimir putin 60% recruitment tactics 60% repatriation 60%