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

Al JazeeraEN 2 min read 100% complete by Al Jazeera StaffFebruary 25, 2026 at 09:24 AM

AI Summary

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Eleven South African men, allegedly lured into fighting for Russia in Ukraine, are being repatriated home. This follows distress calls from a group of seventeen men who claimed they were tricked into joining mercenary forces in the Donbas region. Four men returned last week, and the remaining eleven are expected soon, with two others still in Russia awaiting processing or hospitalization. President Cyril Ramaphosa thanked President Vladimir Putin for his support in facilitating the return through diplomatic channels. An investigation is underway into the recruitment of these men, as South African law prohibits citizens from fighting for foreign armies without authorization. Reports have surfaced of similar recruitment schemes targeting young men from other African countries.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Zimbabwe 30% Kenya 40% Donbas 60% Vladimir Putin ×280% Ukraine ×490% Russia ×590% Cyril Ramaphosa ×290% South Africa ×3100%

Keywords

russia-ukraine war 100% mercenary activities 80% repatriation 70% south africa 70% recruitment 60% foreign fighters 50% human trafficking 50% diplomatic channels 40%