Families say men recruited for Russia traumatised

FOUR South African men who returned from the Russia-Ukraine conflict on Wednesday spent their first day back in the country providing statements to police and surrendering their cellphones as part of an ongoing investigation.

- THAMI MAGUBANE

According to their families, the men are being accommodated at a secure location in Johannesburg. Their phones were confiscated upon arrival, a move relatives believe forms part of a probe into how the group was recruited and transported to the war zone.

The men had been in the conflict for several months. They are among 17 South Africans believed to have travelled to Russia, with more expected to return in the coming days.

One of the group, who sustained severe injuries, will remain in Russia for further medical treatment. He is reportedly set to receive a prosthetic leg.