# Nine Zimbabweans arrested trying to join Russia-Ukraine war

> South African police catch group preparing to leave country to fight in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
- Title: Nine Zimbabweans arrested trying to join Russia-Ukraine war
- Summary: South African police catch group preparing to leave country to fight in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
- Keywords: zimbabwe, south africa, russia-ukraine war, foreign fighters, mercenary recruitment, johannesburg, or tambo airport, BBC News
- Source: BBC News — https://bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm93z3lp5lnpo
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: zimbabwe, south africa, russia-ukraine war, foreign fighters, mercenary recruitment, johannesburg, or tambo airport, news, world
## Nine arrested at airports and hotels
South African police arrested nine Zimbabweans aged between twenty and twenty-six in and around Johannesburg on Sunday evening. Five were caught at OR Tambo airport and four at a hotel in Bruma, east of Johannesburg.
## Caught preparing to board flights out
The group was arrested as they were preparing to board flights out of the country. Authorities did not say what their final destination was or whether they intended to fight for Russia or Ukraine.
## Charged under mercenary activity law
All nine were charged with contravening South Africa's Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act, which outlaws mercenary activity without government permission. A multidisciplinary team involving Interpol made the arrests.
## Hundreds of Africans recruited for Russia
A Ukrainian intelligence assessment estimated earlier this year that more than one thousand seven hundred people from thirty-six countries in Africa have been recruited to fight for Russia.
## Zimbabwe reports nationals killed in war
In March, Zimbabwe said that fifteen of its nationals had been killed after being recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine, with more than sixty still trapped on the frontlines.
## Key takeaway

Nine Zimbabweans aged twenty to twenty-six were arrested in South Africa after being caught preparing to board flights to join the Russia-Ukraine war.