"Ramaphosa's government is looking into how the men were recruited to fight in 'seemingly mercenary activities' Ukraine [FILE: October 22, 2025]Image: Willy Kurniawan/REUTERS Seventeen South African nationals believed to be fighting with mercenary groups in the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine have sent pleas to the government in Pretoria to help bring them home, the South African presidency said Thursday."
"In a statement, the presidency said it had "received distress calls for assistance to return home from seventeen (17) South African men, between the ages of 20-39 years, who are trapped in the war-torn Donbas." The men were "lured to join mercenary forces involved in the Ukraine-Russia war under the pretext of lucrative employment contracts," the statement said. It is not clear whether the men were fighting for Russia or Ukraine. The industrial Donbas region is a key front in the war."
Seventeen South African nationals aged roughly 20–39 have sent distress calls seeking government assistance to return from the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. The presidency reported the men were allegedly lured by offers of lucrative employment to join mercenary forces in the Ukraine-Russia conflict. It remains unclear whether the men are fighting for Russia or Ukraine. President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered an inquiry into recruitment methods. South African law prohibits citizens from fighting for foreign armies without authorization. The government previously warned about fake job offers on social media and reports of people being lured to Russia to produce drones.
Read at www.dw.com
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