Four South African men who were allegedly lured to fight in Ukraine have arrived back in the country from Russia. Former ambassador Dr Kingsley Makhubela urges police to debrief them to assess any security risks from their military training. The return follows diplomatic efforts between Presidents Ramaphosa and Putin.
Four South African men landed at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, after being stranded in Russia. They were among a group recruited last year under the pretext of bodyguard training or lucrative employment, but ended up involved in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The men were processed by immigration officials and taken into police custody upon arrival. This follows distress calls received by the South African government in November last year from 17 or 19 men trapped in Ukraine, according to reports. A phone call between President Cyril Ramaphosa and Russian President Vladimir Putin facilitated their return.
Former South African Ambassador to Portugal, Dr Kingsley Makhubela, emphasized the need for police to interrogate the men. "Now that they are back home, they need to be debriefed and I think the details will come back," he said. Makhubela questioned whether they were willing participants or mercenaries under contract, noting Russia's recruitment of fighters from various countries.
He highlighted potential safety risks, stating that individuals with military training could engage in criminal activities, such as cash-in-transit heists. "It raises serious security risks for the country, that’s why it’s very important for security agencies to get to the bottom of this," Makhubela added.
Ukraine's Centre for Countering Disinformation reported that Moscow has recruited at least 18,000 fighters from 128 countries. Kyiv has held citizens from nations including Somalia, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Sri Lanka in prisoner-of-war camps.