Eleven South African men who were lured in the fight between Russia and Ukraine, have been rescued and are expected to arrive in the country on Wednesday.
The men are part of a group of 17, who were lured to join mercenary forces involved in the Ukraine-Russia war under the pretext of lucrative employment contracts.
Following their short military training, they were then provided with contracts written in Russian but however refused to sign them.
Their cellphones and other communications devices were then confiscated and were sent to the war-torn region of Donbas in the Ukraine.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has welcomed the men’s release, adding that investigations on the whereabouts of the other two men remain under investigation.
“The South African government working closely with the Russian government has secured a safe return of the men.
This followed receipt of distressed calls for assistance to return home from 17 South African men between the ages of 20-39 years.
President Ramaphosa has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to President Vladimir Putin who responded positively to his call to support the process of returning the men home,” said presidency spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya.
According to Magwenya, Putin pledged his support during a telephone call with Ramaphosa held on the 10th of February 2026.
Magwenya also highlighted that out of the 17 men, four are already back in the country, two remain in Russia with one in a hospital in Moscow, while the other one is being processed before finalising his travel arrangements.
“The South African embassy in Moscow will continue to monitor the individual that is in hospital until he has fully recovered to travel.
The investigation into the circumstances that led to the recruitment of these young men into mercenary activities is ongoing,” explained Magwenya.
