South Africa investigates how 17 men were duped into joining Russia-Ukraine war

The South African government said it will investigate how 17 of its citizens were tricked into joining mercenaries in the Russia-Ukraine war after they asked for help to escape the conflict in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said the South African men, aged between 20 and 39, were lured into joining mercenary forces “under the pretext of lucrative employment contracts” and had issued distress calls after becoming trapped in Ukraine.

Mr Ramaphosa’s spokesperson said it was not yet clear which side the men were fighting on, but Russia has been accused of recruiting men from other countries to fight in the war under the pretext of offering them jobs.

It has also been accused of tricking women from South Africa and other parts of Africa into working in Russian drone factories through social media campaigns promising them jobs in fields like catering and hospitality.

“President Ramaphosa and the South African government strongly condemn the exploitation of young vulnerable people by individuals working with foreign military entities,” a statement from Mr Ramaphosa’s office said.

It said the South African government was working through diplomatic channels to repatriate the 17 men.

India and Nepal have said some of their citizens have been recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine under the promise of jobs, while Ukraine has claimed Russia is using mercenaries from African countries and elsewhere in the war.

An Associated Press investigation last year showed how hundreds of women from Africa were duped into working in a drone plant in Tatarstan’s Alabuga Special Economic Zone, about 600 miles east of Moscow, as Russia faced an urgent wartime labour shortage.

The South African government warned young women in August to be aware of fake adverts pushed by social media influencers in South Africa promising jobs and study opportunities in Russia.