South African broadcaster linked to fighters recruitment for Ukraine war
Photo: military personnel from Africa recruited by the Wagner private military company (Getty Images)
South African radio host Nonkululeko Mantula has appeared in court on charges of recruiting four men to fight against Ukraine on the side of Russia, according to Associated Press.
South African police said three men were detained while attempting to board a flight to Russia via the United Arab Emirates. Investigators believe a fourth man had already travelled to Russia after being recruited by Mantula.
The arrest of the SAFM state radio presenter comes amid a separate police probe involving the daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma, who allegedly deceived another seventeen men into fighting for Russia in Ukraine.
Dudu Zuma-Sambudla has since resigned from parliament and all state positions. Her half-sister accused her of tricking men into travelling to Russia under the pretext of receiving security training that would help them secure employment.
Russia's broader recruitment effort
Russia has long sought to attract Africans and Asians to advance its influence and promote the "Russian world" ideology abroad.
According to Ukraine’s foreign minister Andriy Sybiha, more than 1,400 African nationals are fighting for Russia, and governments across the continent are urging citizens not to fall for recruitment schemes.
The Centre for Countering Disinformation under Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council reports that since 2022, Russia has recruited foreign nationals from 128 countries through fraudulent recruitment hubs, private companies, and official diplomatic and cultural channels.
The highest number of foreign fighters comes from North Korea, around 12,000. Significant numbers also originate from Central Asian states: Uzbekistan (2,715), Tajikistan (1,599), Kazakhstan (1,190), and Kyrgyzstan (687). Additionally, 1,338 Belarusians are taking part in combat operations against Ukraine.
