Seventeen South Africans have reportedly been lured into joining mercenary forces in Ukraine's Donbas region, after being promised lucrative employment. President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned the exploitation of young and vulnerable citizens and says efforts are underway to bring them home.

To help us understand how foreign recruitment works, why young people are being targeted, and the broader implications, we are joined by security expert Professor Thomas Mandrup, Associate Professor at the Royal Danish Defence College and Stellenbosch University in South Africa.