JOHANNESBURG — The South African government announced Thursday that it is investigating how 17 of its citizens were lured into joining mercenary forces in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
According to an official statement, the men aged between 20 and 39 were misled by false promises of well-paying jobs before being deployed to Ukraine’s war-torn Donbas region. Authorities say the government has received distress calls from the group and is now working to facilitate their safe return home.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered an investigation into the circumstances that led to the recruitment of these young men into these seemingly mercenary activities,” the statement read.
Officials did not disclose which side of the conflict the South Africans were fighting for. Under national law, it is illegal for citizens to provide military assistance or join foreign armed forces without government authorization.
Earlier in August, the government warned citizens to be cautious of fake job offers in Russia after reports emerged that South African women had been tricked into assembling drones for military use.