The South African government has announced an investigation following distress calls from 17 of its citizens who reportedly joined mercenary forces fighting in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and are now trapped in Ukraine’s war-torn Donbas region.
In a statement released on Thursday, the government said the men, aged between 20 and 39, had reached out for assistance after finding themselves stranded amid the ongoing hostilities.
“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 said.
Authorities did not specify which side the men had joined or how they were recruited. The government said it is working to verify the identities and locations of the individuals and has urged citizens to avoid involvement in international armed conflicts.
The Russia-Ukraine war, now in its third year, continues to draw foreign fighters despite repeated international warnings about the legal and security risks of such participation.
Melissa Enoch
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