President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed the repatriation of 17 South African men who were allegedly tricked into fighting on Russia's side in the Ukraine conflict, expressing gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin for facilitating their return.
The men, aged 20–39, contacted the South African government with distress calls in November 2025 after realizing they had been misled.
They believed they were traveling to Russia for bodyguard or security training but were presented with contracts in Russian and deployed to the front lines in Ukraine's Donbas region.
In a February 10 phone call, Ramaphosa raised the issue with Putin, who responded positively to support their repatriation.
Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya stated that Ramaphosa “expressed his heartfelt gratitude to President Vladimir Putin, who responded positively to his call to support the process of returning the men home.”
According to the presidency:
Four men returned home last Friday (February 20 or 21, 2026).
Eleven are expected to arrive soon (some reports indicate 11 returned on Wednesday, February 25).
Two remain in Russia: one hospitalized in Moscow (monitored by the South African embassy until fit to travel) and another undergoing travel arrangements.
The government is working closely with Russian authorities on the process. Participating in mercenary activities or fighting for a foreign power without authorization remains illegal under South African law.
An ongoing investigation targets the recruitment process, including South African elements allegedly involved. In a related development, five individuals including a public broadcaster radio presenter were arrested in December 2025 for suspected recruitment for the Russian military; they were released on bail pending trial.
Some reports link the recruitment to figures associated with the opposition MK Party, though details remain under probe. Families and victims have described deception, with one case involving an affidavit from Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla (who denied intent to harm and claimed belief in lawful training) and a criminal complaint filed by her half-sister.
The presidency emphasized that the men were “lured” into the conflict and welcomed their safe return, while stressing continued efforts to hold recruiters accountable.
No further details on injuries or specific frontline experiences were released.
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