17 South Africans Trapped in Ukraine’s Donbas After Joining Mercenary Forces, Says Ramaphosa

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa says 17 South Africans who joined mercenary groups fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war are now trapped in the Donbas region of Ukraine.

According to government spokesperson Vincent Magwenya, the men, aged between 20 and 39, contacted South African authorities asking for help to return home.

President Ramaphosa has ordered an investigation into how these men were recruited into what he called “mercenary activities.” Officials have not confirmed which side of the conflict they were fighting for.

“The South African government strongly condemns the exploitation of vulnerable young people by individuals linked to foreign military entities,” Magwenya said.

Working as a mercenary or joining a foreign military without approval is illegal in South Africa. The government believes the men were deceived by promises of high-paying contracts that turned out to be false.

Sixteen of the men are reportedly from KwaZulu-Natal, while one is from the Eastern Cape. Authorities say they are using diplomatic channels to secure their safe return.

The situation highlights growing concerns about Russia’s military influence in Africa. The Africa Corps, a Russian mercenary force under the Russian Ministry of Defence, has replaced the Wagner Group in several parts of West Africa since Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin died in a plane crash.

Earlier this year, the South African government warned citizens, especially young women, against social media job offers claiming to provide overseas employment particularly in Russia.

A BBC investigation revealed that some women from Africa and South Asia had been taken to Alabuga, a special economic zone in Tatarstan, Russia, where they were forced to work in drone and weapons factories. More than 1,000 women are believed to have been recruited.

In September, Kenyan police rescued over 20 people from a human trafficking network that had lured them with job offers in Russia but allegedly intended to send them to fight in Ukraine instead.

Ukraine has previously confirmed that it is holding foreign fighters from countries including Somalia, Sierra Leone, Togo, Cuba, and Sri Lanka in prisoner-of-war camps.

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