South Africa says most of a group of 17 men lured into fighting for Russia set to return home

South Africa's government said on Tuesday ​that 11 of a group of ​17 men who were lured ‌into fighting ​for Russia in Ukraine were set to return home soon, after an initial four landed back in the ‌country last week. A further two remained in Russia, with one in a hospital in Moscow, President Cyril Ramaphosa's office said in a statement.

Ramaphosa raised the fate of the 17 ‌men, who sent distress calls to the South African government in November after ‌getting trapped in Ukraine's Donbas region, in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin this month. Reports of African men being lured into Russia with promises of jobs and ending up on Ukraine's ⁠front line ​have become more frequent ⁠in recent months, creating tensions between Moscow and some of the countries involved.

A Kenyan intelligence report presented ⁠to lawmakers last week estimated that more than 1,000 Kenyans had been recruited to fight on ​Russia's side in the war in Ukraine. Kenya's foreign minister has said he ⁠plans to visit Russia to address the issue. South Africa has sought to maintain a non-aligned ⁠stance ​on the conflict in Ukraine, while preserving strong ties with Moscow as a fellow BRICS member alongside Brazil, India and China.

Under South African law, it is illegal ⁠for citizens to provide military assistance to foreign governments or participate in foreign armies unless authorised ⁠to do ⁠so. Much of the Donbas is controlled by Russian forces and fighting has been heavy there since Russia invaded Ukraine four years ago.