In a significant development, South African authorities have apprehended nine Zimbabwean citizens, aged between 20 and 26, who were allegedly planning to leave the country and join the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The arrests took place on Sunday evening in and around Johannesburg, with five individuals being detained at OR Tambo International Airport and another four at a hotel in Bruma. The group is accused of contravening South Africa's Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act, which bans mercenary activity without government approval. The multidisciplinary team involved Interpol in the operation, suggesting that the suspects may have also broken laws in their home countries. As of now, it remains unclear whether the group intended to fight for Russia or Ukraine, and no details have been provided about the organizations accused of facilitating their travel. This incident comes amidst reports of hundreds of people from various African nations, including Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa, being recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine. In March, it was reported that more than 1,700 people from 36 African countries were recruited to fight for Russia, with Kenya estimating that 252 of its citizens had been illegally conscripted. This arrest marks the latest incident in a series of attempts by South African authorities to prevent their citizens from being tricked into joining foreign conflicts. In December last year, five people, including a journalist, were arrested for allegedly recruiting people to join the war.