South Africans who went to Russia ended up in Ukraine
They say they were recruited under false pretenses
Conditions for them in Ukraine are harsh, they say
They describe a lack of food and medical care
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 in which he and at least 16 other South African men say they were conscripted by an unspecified mercenary group and sent to join Russian forces in Ukraine.
...
The scam that Dubandlela said ensnared his son came to light on November 6, when South Africa said it had received distress calls from 17 men aged between 20 and 39 who said they were trapped in Donbas.
An investigation into the scam by an elite police unit known as "Hawks" focused on the alleged involvement of one of former President Jacob Zuma's daughters, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla.
Zuma-Sambudla later resigned as lawmaker in the Umkhonto weSizwe opposition party led by her father. She has denied knowing of the scam.
Zuma-Sambudla did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Her lawyer, Dali Mpofu, declined to comment.
...
It is not just South Africans who unwittingly ended up in Ukraine's war. Kenya said on Nov. 12 over 200 of its citizens were fighting for Russia in Ukraine, and that recruiting agencies were still actively working to lure more Kenyans into the conflict. Authorities in Botswana have said two men were duped into joining the war under false promises of jobs.
...
Ukraine's foreign minister said last month that more than 1,400 citizens from three dozen African countries were fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. Russia does not provide details of non-Russians fighting in Ukraine.
...
optissima @lemmy.ml - 22hr
Sounds like they fell for the local US army recruiter tactics
8
prettybunnys - 22hr
This is about Russia.
Solid attempt to deflect though
16
optissima @lemmy.ml - 22hr
I'm not deflecting, I am saying I've heard these promises before and I've seen people fall for it. It's sad and no one should do this. Disgusting but unsurprising that Russia is pulling the same shit.
8
partial_accumen - 21hr
You've heard private companies offer foreign nationals VIP bodyguard jobs, but in reality its the US government that ends up sending those new hires to be front line mercenaries in an active war zone?
That is very VERY different than a uniformed US military recruitment sergeant operating out of a well marked suburban recruitment office offering teenagers adventure, money, and free college to get them to join the US Armed forces.
6
optissima @lemmy.ml - 19hr
You've heard private companies offer foreign nationals VIP bodyguard jobs, but in reality its the US government that ends up sending those new hires to be front line mercenaries in an active war zone?
Yep, it's phrased as "don't worry, you won't be deployed, you'll mostly just be running errands on a us base for officers," and then they were deployed to afganistan
7
partial_accumen - 18hr
So no, then. Because even if they were told that (and I don't doubt you that happens), that recruit knows they're talking to a uniformed US military recruiter and is actively engaging they are discussing joining the US military. They also know the US military has a long history of fighting hot wars. Any possible recruit the recruiters are talking to grew up with 14 years of Afghanistan war on the news.
This is nothing like being told you're going to be a body guard of an oil company exec or pop star engaging in civilian activities in another country, which is how it sounds like these folks were sold on joining.
4
ChicoSuave @lemmy.world - 21hr
Is there nothing Russia can't fuck up? At least China will absorb them soon and put someone capable in charge.
Sepia in world @lemmy.world
South Africans say they were scammed into joining Russia's war in Ukraine to dig trenches, dodge bullets
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/south-africans-dragged-into-russias-war-ukraine-dig-trenches-dodge-bullets-2025-12-22/cross-posted from: https://mander.xyz/post/44164675
Sounds like they fell for the local US army recruiter tactics
This is about Russia.
Solid attempt to deflect though
I'm not deflecting, I am saying I've heard these promises before and I've seen people fall for it. It's sad and no one should do this. Disgusting but unsurprising that Russia is pulling the same shit.
You've heard private companies offer foreign nationals VIP bodyguard jobs, but in reality its the US government that ends up sending those new hires to be front line mercenaries in an active war zone?
That is very VERY different than a uniformed US military recruitment sergeant operating out of a well marked suburban recruitment office offering teenagers adventure, money, and free college to get them to join the US Armed forces.
Yep, it's phrased as "don't worry, you won't be deployed, you'll mostly just be running errands on a us base for officers," and then they were deployed to afganistan
So no, then. Because even if they were told that (and I don't doubt you that happens), that recruit knows they're talking to a uniformed US military recruiter and is actively engaging they are discussing joining the US military. They also know the US military has a long history of fighting hot wars. Any possible recruit the recruiters are talking to grew up with 14 years of Afghanistan war on the news.
This is nothing like being told you're going to be a body guard of an oil company exec or pop star engaging in civilian activities in another country, which is how it sounds like these folks were sold on joining.
Is there nothing Russia can't fuck up? At least China will absorb them soon and put someone capable in charge.
"Scammed," riiiiight.