The Ukrainian Association of South Africa (UAZA) has renewed its call on the South African government to immediately terminate all military cooperation with Russia, warning that continued engagement contradicts international law and South Africa’s stated commitment to peace.
The appeal comes ahead of the Russian navy’s participation in joint naval exercises titled Will to Peace, scheduled for Jan. 9–16. UAZA has consistently opposed such drills and is demanding that Russian warships be denied access to South Africa’s territorial waters.
“It is the height of cynicism to involve the Russian Navy in an exercise called ‘Will to Peace’ while Russia has waged an imperial war against Ukraine for more than 12 years,” said Dzvinka Kachur, UWC Regional Vice President for Africa and co-founder of UAZA.
UAZA said the Russian navy is directly implicated in the deportation, forced Russification, and militarization of Ukrainian children from occupied territories. The association has also repeatedly warned that Russia recruits vulnerable African citizens to fight in its war against Ukraine.
At least 17 South African citizens are reportedly trapped by Russian forces, while more than 1,400 Africans from over 36 countries are believed to be serving in the Russian army.
UAZA further noted that cases of abducted Ukrainian children being enrolled in Russian military institutions were documented in 2022–2023, including plans to train children as young as 12 at naval schools linked to the Russian fleet.
The association also recalled that in June 2024, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for a Russian navy admiral over attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure that caused widespread civilian suffering.
UAZA is urging South African citizens and civil society organizations to protest the upcoming naval exercises, warning that participation risks legitimizing a military force accused of war crimes and the exploitation of vulnerable communities.
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