South Africa secures return of 11 men ‘lured’ into Russia-Ukraine war
Al Jazeera
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expresses ‘heartfelt gratitude’ to Russia’s Putin for support in repatriating the men.
A group of 11 South African men who were “lured” into fighting for Russia in Ukraine will return home, the country’s presidency has said.
Pretoria said late last year that it had received “distress calls” from 17 men who were trapped in the epicentre of the fiercest ongoing fighting in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region after being tricked into joining mercenary forces.
Four of the men landed back home last week and 11 were expected to return soon, the presidency said on Tuesday.
Two other South Africans remain in Russia, with one in hospital and the other being processed before planned travel home, it added.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa “expressed his heartfelt gratitude to President Vladimir Putin, who responded positively to his call to support the process of returning the men home,” the presidency said in a statement.
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