Four South African men who were allegedly enticed into fighting for Russia in Ukraine have returned to South Africa, landing at Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport on Wednesday, according to reports from the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).
The men were part of a group of 17 South Africans who initially contacted the South African government in November seeking assistance to leave Ukraine’s Donbas region, where they had grow trapped while fighting alongside Russian forces. Their return follows discussions between South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month, during which both leaders pledged support for the repatriation process.
While details surrounding their recruitment remain under investigation, the South African presidency confirmed the men were lured under the promise of lucrative employment contracts. President Ramaphosa has ordered a full investigation into the circumstances that led to their involvement, according to a statement released in November. “We don’t know yet, hence the investigation,” presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwengya stated.
The return of the four men does not resolve the situation for the remaining 13 South Africans still believed to be in the Donbas region. The process to secure their return is ongoing, Ramaphosa’s spokesperson confirmed to Reuters, but offered no timeline.
South Africa’s legal framework prohibits its citizens from providing military assistance to foreign governments or participating in foreign armies without official authorization. The involvement of these men raises questions about potential legal repercussions upon their full return.
The Ukrainian foreign ministry has reportedly been looking into the reports of South Africans fighting alongside Russian forces. Russia’s embassy in South Africa has not yet responded to requests for comment.
South Africa has publicly maintained a non-aligned position regarding the war in Ukraine, while simultaneously fostering warm relations with Moscow as a member of the BRICS economic group. This stance has drawn scrutiny as reports of foreign nationals being recruited to fight for Russia have surfaced. Similar reports have emerged from India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, alleging that their citizens were also recruited under false pretenses.
Much of the Donbas region remains under Russian control, and has been the site of intense fighting since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The South African government’s investigation will focus on how the 17 men were initially recruited and transported to the conflict zone.
Neither a police spokesperson nor South Africa’s foreign ministry have offered public comment on the ongoing repatriation efforts or the investigation.
