JOHANNESBURG – Four men from South Africa who were deceived into joining Russian military operations in Ukraine have arrived back in their home country, according to the South African Broadcasting Corporation.
The men touched down at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Wednesday, where law enforcement officials were present to meet them, SABC reported.
When contacted for details, a police representative refused to provide comment and referred questions to the nation’s foreign affairs department. Officials from the foreign ministry did not immediately return requests for information.
In November, South African authorities announced they would launch an investigation into how 17 of their nationals became involved with mercenary operations in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. The probe began after the men reached out desperately seeking assistance to return to South Africa.
Earlier this month, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa held a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Following their discussion, Ramaphosa’s administration released a statement saying both leaders had “pledged their support to the process of returning South Africans fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.”
According to South African legal statutes, citizens are prohibited from offering military support to foreign nations or enlisting in overseas armed forces without official authorization from South Africa.
