DIRCO Confirms That South Africans Who Fought in Russia-Ukraine War Have Died

• The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has revealed that some of the men who were in Donbas in Ukraine have died
• The South African government has been working with the Russian government to repatriate the men who were trapped in the war-torn region
• The deaths came after the government received a few of the men who successfully returned to the country and were handed over to police custody

With 10 years’ experience, Tebogo Mokwena, Briefly News’ Deputy Head of the Current Affairs desk, South Africa, provided insights into the criminal justice system, crime statistics, commissions of inquiry, and high-profile cases in South Africa at Daily Sun.

PRETORIA, GAUTENG — The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has revealed that some of the men who fought in Donbas, Ukraine, have died.

According to Newzroom Afrika, the announcement of the two men who died was made on 26 February 2026, one day after 11 of the men who were lured to fight for Russia in the Russia-Ukraine war returned to the country. The identities of the men were not revealed. Addressing the media, International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola said that not every South African fighting for Russia was lured.

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Lamola told SABC News that there are other South Africans that the government has since discovered were part of the process, some of whom have died. Lamola added that the government was "notified by the Russian embassy" of two men who had died, he said, who had been "part of another recruitment drive or another scheme".

View the announcement tweet on X here:

Not linked to the men lured to Donbas: Lamola

Lamola clarified that the men were not part of the South African men who were trapped in Donbas, Ukraine. Lamola pointed out that the government is focused on returning those who went to fight for Russia so that legal processes would follow. He added that the South African law must take place, as some may avoid accountability. This is because, under South African law, it is illegal to fight as a mercenary in an international conflict without deployment from the South African National Defence Force.

Lamola visited the families of the trapped men

Lamola also formally met with the families of the men who returned from thecountry. He said the department was deeply concerned by the suspicious circumstances and tactics used to lure them into a warzone. He urged the public to be vigilant and warned that if an international job offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. He said that the government's empathy for the families is matched by its duty to uphold the Republic's laws.

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Family spokesperson claims Duduzile demanded millions

In a related article, Briefly News reported that a spokesperson for 11 of the men who were trapped in Donbas alleged that former uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party MP Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla were recuited by the Wagner Group. The spokesperson also alleged that the group paid Zuma-Sambudla R14 million for the men's services.

The men were reportedly promised R25,000 a month. However, no payment came forth despite promises to renumerate them.

Source: Briefly News