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

The frontline town of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk region (Oleg Petrasiuk/Ukraine’s 24th Mechanised Brigade via AP)

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.