Ukraine’s ambassador to South Africa has issued a sharp warning to citizens, urging them not to get involved in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine after 17 South African men were reportedly deceived into joining mercenary forces.
Last week, the South African government confirmed receiving distress calls from the men, aged between 20 and 39, who are believed to be trapped in the heavily contested Donbas region. According to the Presidency, the men were recruited under the false promise of well-paid employment, though officials did not specify which side of the conflict they were fighting for.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga revealed earlier that at least 1,436 individuals from 36 African countries have been identified among Russian ranks — an alarming indicator of how widespread this recruitment scheme has become.
Speaking to AFP, Ukraine’s ambassador to Pretoria, Oleksandr Shcherba, said the men were “lured” into the battlefield and urged South Africans to stay clear of the conflict.
“We hope that the situation with Russia violating South African legislation and dragging or luring these people into this war will be an eye-opener for South African society,” he said.
Shcherba noted that his office had been inundated with emails from families of the trapped men.
“Ever since this news broke, I have received emails from family members… they were desperate. Don’t do that to your mothers and fathers and sisters.”
South African law strictly prohibits citizens from joining foreign armies unless authorised by the government, making the incident a serious legal and diplomatic concern.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has since ordered an investigation into how the men were recruited. Media reports suggested that they may have been sent to Russia by the MK Party — led by former president Jacob Zuma — allegedly for “security training”. Zuma has historically maintained close ties with Moscow.
Shcherba warned that any political involvement would deepen the crisis.
“If South African politicians were found to have been involved, it makes the whole situation even more precarious.”
His message to the public was direct and unequivocal:
“Please don’t get fooled and don’t get involved to fight in this barbaric, unfair, unjust war. This is not your war… and seeing Africans fighting a colonial war against a free country is especially insane.”
