Young Middelburg sportsman injured in Russian drone attack in Ukraine
South Africans could be in Russian or Ukrainian trenches
A young local sportsman who went to fight in Ukraine was injured in a Russian drone attack.
The attack took place last year, but has only now become known.
His name cannot be revealed.
He was not recruited, but applied to go and fight on the side of Ukraine.
After being injured in the drone attack, he returned to South Africa a few months later.
It was an emotional reunion when he arrived in South Africa in September last year.
His entire family was at OR Tambo Airport to welcome him back, including his father and grandfather.
Above a social media post, his father wrote, “Today was probably the most beautiful by far in every way. Dear Jesus, my family is full. You gave him back to us safely; we are so grateful tonight.”
Alongside an emotional video of family members hugging each other, he wrote, “Two years, thank you, Dear Jesus, there is no better feeling.”
That he has reason to be grateful that his son survived the war can be seen from the latest statistics.
A report by the US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has published estimates of losses in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
According to CSIS, Ukraine’s total losses since the start of the full-scale invasion are estimated at between 500 000 and 600 000 people killed, wounded or missing. Of those, between 100 000 and 140 000 are believed to be military fatalities. Russia’s losses are assessed as even higher, with up to 1.2 million casualties in total, including around 325 000.
The young South African claims, “You can double those statistics.”
If you take into consideration that the total Lesotho population is 2.3 million, the real impact of the war became clear.
The war has taken on a new meaning for South Africans, with the news that 17 young men have been recruited by Russia for the war.
Researcher Denys Reva, formerly of Ukraine, says he has heard rumours of South Africans fighting on the side of Ukraine, but it is unknown how many soldiers there are.
The question is, if there are South Africans recruited by the Russians and South Africans fighting on the side of Ukraine, could they clash on the war front?
Willem Els of The Institute for Security Studies says “it is a possibility”.
He said he was also not aware of the number of South Africans fighting on the side of Ukraine, but he knew that the Russians were aggressively recruiting soldiers in Africa.
“This includes countries like Kenya and Uganda. I know of a Ugandan citizen who was a prisoner of war in Ukraine.”
He also knows about a medic from the Brits area in North West working in Ukraine.
According to a soldier who fought on the side of Ukraine, “There are many South Africans.”
The Middelburger who fought on the side of the Ukrainians wasn’t prepared to say how many South Africans joined the Ukrainian Army.
One of his buddies lives in Pretoria.
Regarding the legislation that prohibits South Africans from becoming involved in conflicts in other countries, Els says the law was pushed through very quickly and is very vague.
Reva says most foreigners are fighting in Ukraine under the banner of the International Legion.
The Legion for the Defence of Ukraine, or the Ukrainian Foreign Legion, is a military unit of the Ukrainian Ground Forces composed of foreign volunteers. It was created on February 27, 2022, by the Ukrainian government at the request of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to fight against the Russian invasion.
It was originally part of the Territorial Defence Forces, under the name of the International Legion of Territorial Defence of Ukraine, eventually transitioning to the command of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.
On March 7, 2022, the Ukrainian Armed Forces released the first image of International Legion soldiers in trenches on the outskirts of Kyiv and announced that new groups were being deployed to the front each day.
On their website, the International Legion of Territorial Defence Forces of Ukraine invite foreign soldiers to join in three easy steps.
“The process is easy, quick and straightforward. If you qualify, you will be contacted via email by the representative of a unit that has selected your candidacy.”
The former Ukrainian soldier and Middelburg sportsman did not fight for the International Legion but for the elite special forces.
Read his story of the death and destruction he experienced on our website.
WATCH: To Ukraine and back | Carte Blanche | M-Net
WATCH: Ukraine Hit by Huge Russian Drone and Missile Attack
