Name: South Africans who ended up in Russias war in Ukraine dig trenches
Uploaded: 2025-12-22T17:21:33.378Z
Duration: 3 min 11 s
Description: South African father-of-three Dubandlela was overcome with pride when his 20-year-old son signed up in July to receive elite training as a VIP bodyguard in Russia. Five months later, Dubandlela is in despair. His son had fallen for an alleged recruitment scam and sent to join Russian forces in Ukraine.

South African father-of-three Dubandlela was overcome with pride when his 20-year-old son signed up in July to receive elite training as a VIP bodyguard in Russia. Five months later, Dubandlela is in despair. His son had fallen for an alleged recruitment scam and sent to join Russian forces in Ukraine.

Kyiv

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine from land, air and sea with strikes causing widespread damage. Global leaders have condemned the move and imposed sanctions.

Ukraine Invasion

At least 17 South African men were allegedly recruited under false pretenses and sent to fight on the front lines in Russia's war in Ukraine, after being promised elite security training jobs. The situation came to light when families received distress calls, leading to an investigation involving the daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, who has denied knowledge of the scam and resigned from her political role.

South African authorities have made the case a priority and are in discussions with Russia to secure the men's release. The Russian Foreign Ministry has not commented, and similar cases have emerged across Africa, with reports of hundreds of Africans fighting for Russia and Ukraine, including fatalities.

South Africans who ended up in Russia's war in Ukraine dig trenches

The situation is so bad. Duban Flela's family is among several whose lives have been torn apart by an alleged recruitment scam which led to at least 17 South African men fighting on the front line in Russia's war on Ukraine. All the time my boy is crying when he's talking with me. All the time he's crying because of the situation. Speaking to Reuters in Durban, he declined to give his or his son's full name for fears of his son's safety. Duban Flela says his son was promised elite training as a VIP security guard in Russia but upon arrival in July, the group was conscripted and sent to Ukraine's Donbass region where fighting has been heavy. They are working, they're digging with the trenches almost every day and even the training, the training is so hard. They're carrying with very huge weapons. The problem, what are they facing for, there's no water at some stage, no food, almost maybe there's few days getting with the food and maybe five days they didn't get the food. It's so hard even Reuters was unable to independently confirm some aspects of the accounts from Duban Flela and two South African recruits interviewed by phone from Donbass. The scam came to light in November when South Africa said it received distress calls from the men saying they were trapped in Donbass. An investigation focused on the alleged involvement of President Jacob Zuma's daughter Duduzela Zuma Sambudla. She would later resign as a lawmaker in the opposition party led by her father. She has denied knowing of the scam and did not respond to requests for comment. Recruits Reuters spoke to say Zuma Sambudla was present in Russia and persuaded them to sign contracts without a translator present. Message exchanges shared with Reuters from her verified account with her phone number and picture show she reassured the men to the contrary after they were told they would be sent to war. South Africa says the case is a top priority and discussions with Russian authorities are ongoing to secure their release. The Russian Foreign Ministry did not respond to a written request for comment on the alleged scam or the current circumstances of the 17 South Africans. Similar cases have emerged across Africa. Kenya reports more than 200 citizens fighting for Russia and Ukraine estimates more than 1,400 Africans are involved. One Kenyan recruit, David Kuloba, was killed on the front line after signing a Russian military contract. His mother, Susan, said she received a voice message from one of his fellow combatants who said he was killed in an explosion. After a while, when he had started going for missions, I kept praying for him because my heart wasn't settled. Then he suddenly went off. To this day, I have never heard from him.

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South Africans who ended up in Russia's war in Ukraine dig trenches

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Ukraine Invasion