South African president thanks Putin after 17 men ‘lured’ to Russian frontlines begin returning home

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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin aft 17 men who the authorities said were "lured" to Russian frontlines successful its warfare against Ukraine began returning home.

In a connection Tuesday, Ramaphosa’s bureau said the South African government, moving intimately with Russian authorities, secured the repatriation of the men aft receiving distress calls requesting assistance.

The group, ranging successful property from 20 to 39, was allegedly recruited into "mercenary activities."

The circumstances surrounding their recruitment stay nether investigation.

South Africa’s president speaks astatine a podium wrong the parliamentary enclosure during a nationally televised address.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers the State of the Nation code successful Cape Town, South Africa, connected Feb. 12, 2026. (Rodger Bosch/Pool via Reuters)

Ramaphosa expressed gratitude to Putin for responding positively to his petition for assistance during a Feb. 10 telephone telephone betwixt the 2 leaders.

Four of the men person already returned to South Africa, portion 11 are expected to get soon.

Two stay successful Russia — 1 receiving attraction astatine a infirmary successful Moscow and different being processed earlier finalizing question arrangements.

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Police officers and soldiers basal connected a runway arsenic a ample Russian subject bomber touches down astatine an aerial basal adjacent Pretoria.

South African constabulary officers and soldiers basal connected the tarmac arsenic a Russian Air Force Tupolev Tu-160 strategical bomber lands astatine Waterkloof Air Force Base successful Centurion, South Africa, connected Oct. 23, 2019. (Emmanuel Croset/AFP via Getty Images)

South Africa’s embassy successful Moscow is continuing to show the hospitalized idiosyncratic until helium is cleared to travel, according to Ramaphosa's office.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said successful November that Kyiv estimates astatine slightest 1,436 overseas nationals from 36 African countries person been recruited to combat for Russia, informing the existent fig whitethorn beryllium higher.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses information officials during a committee gathering successful Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a code during a gathering of the Federal Security Service committee successful Moscow, Russia, connected Feb. 24, 2026. (Sputnik/Mikhail Metzel/Pool via Reuters)

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Sybiha said Russia uses a scope of tactics to enlistee foreigners, including fiscal incentives, deception and coercion.

"Signing a declaration is equivalent to signing a decease sentence," helium wrote connected X. "Foreign citizens successful the Russian service person a bittersweet fate. Most of them are instantly sent to the alleged ‘meat assaults,’ wherever they are rapidly killed."