One of the South African men trapped in Ukraine's war-torn Donbas region after being allegedly recruited to fight for Russia has recounted the horrors they have been subjected to, saying 'things you see in the movies, we're seeing it live'. In desperate voice notes to his family, the 40-year-old says he is part of a group of South Africans tricked into fighting in the war, and is desperate to return home. The BBC is withholding his identity for his safety,...
'They [the alleged recruiters] even bought us flight tickets to get here [Russia],' Sipho says in one of the voice notes. Zuma-Sambudla has denied intentionally misleading anyone and says she is 'profoundly shocked', adding that she herself is a victim of deception and manipulation. Xolani says that his brother left South Africa on 8 July, thinking he was going to be trained as a bodyguard for MK.
Earlier this month, the South African government confirmed it had received distress calls from 17 of its citizens trapped in Donbas after being lured to join mercenary forces on the promise of lucrative contracts. With his brother still trapped in a war zone, Xolani speaks of his family's anguish.
'They [the alleged recruiters] even bought us flight tickets to get here [Russia],' Sipho says in one of the voice notes. Zuma-Sambudla has denied intentionally misleading anyone and says she is 'profoundly shocked', adding that she herself is a victim of deception and manipulation. Xolani says that his brother left South Africa on 8 July, thinking he was going to be trained as a bodyguard for MK.
Earlier this month, the South African government confirmed it had received distress calls from 17 of its citizens trapped in Donbas after being lured to join mercenary forces on the promise of lucrative contracts. With his brother still trapped in a war zone, Xolani speaks of his family's anguish.
