Russia enlisting foreigners for war against Ukraine, Reuters reveals details

From VIP security to Donbas trenches

According to South African resident Dubandlela, his 20-year-old son was promised elite training as a VIP bodyguard in Russia. Instead, the young man ended up in the trenches in the Donetsk region. The man claims that his son and at least 16 other South Africans were victims of a recruitment scam and were sent to the front.

According to relatives, the foreigners were forced to dig trenches in the cold, went without water and proper food for weeks, and hid from drone strikes.

The Russian Foreign Ministry did not respond to a written request from Reuters for comment on the alleged scam or the current situation of the 17 South African citizens.

Investigation in South Africa and possible political implications

The issue came to light on November 6, when the South African authorities received a complaint from 17 men aged 20 to 39 who claimed to have been forced into the Russian army against their will.

The case is being investigated by the South African elite police unit, the Hawks. In particular, it concerns the possible involvement of Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma.

She denies any involvement in the fraud and claims that she herself was the victim of deception. Her party also emphasizes that Zuma-Sambudla's resignation from parliament is not an admission of guilt.

"The process to retrieve those young men remains a very sensitive process. They are facing grave, grave danger to their lives and we are still in discussions with various authorities, both in Russia as well as in Ukraine, to see how we can free them from the situation they are in. In fact, the emphasis is more with the authorities in Russia and less so with the authorities in the Ukraine, because the information that we have is that they were bungled into the Russian military forces," they said.

According to Reuters, recruits in Russia were asked to sign contracts in Russian without an interpreter, with assurances that it was only for training. Within a few weeks, all foreigners were sent to war.

Foreign mercenaries of Russia: not just South African problem

South Africans are not the only foreigners that Russia is recruiting for the war against Ukraine. In November, the Kenyan authorities said that more than 200 of its citizens were fighting on the side of Russia. Botswana also reported cases of fraudulent recruitment.

Over 1,400 citizens from three dozen African countries are fighting in the Russian army in Ukraine.

One such case is 22-year-old Kenyan David Kuloba, who signed a contract in Russian, agreeing to voluntarily serve Russia. At the end of September, his family received news of his death.

Foreigners in Russia's war against Ukraine

In early November, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a telephone conversation with Kenyan President William Ruto. They discussed the issue of Russia recruiting foreign citizens for its criminal war.

According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, at least 1,436 citizens from 36 African countries are fighting against Ukraine. However, the actual number of militants fighting on the side of the Russian army may be higher.