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Baggage reclaim and transfers terminals seen at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.
Four of the 19 men recruited to go and fight in a war between Russia and Ukraine have landed at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.
They left the country last year under the pretext that they are going for bodyguard training in Russia.
The four men will be processed at the immigration at the airport and taken to custody by police officials.
WATCH | Former ambassador Dr Kingsley Makhubela says the four South African men who arrived home today from Russia should brief police on the training they received, recruitment process, and involvement in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, among others. pic.twitter.com/64Pyj45K0P
— SABC News (@SABCNews) February 18, 2026
This follows a call between President Cyril Ramaphosa and Russian President Vladimir Putin who committed to facilitate their return.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Centre for Countering Disinformation says Moscow has recruited at least 18 000 fighters from 128 countries.
Kyiv previously said it was holding citizens from various countries including Somalia, Sierra Leone, Togo and Sri Lanka at prisoner of war camps.
