Nine Zimbabweans were arrested in South Africa after police said they were caught allegedly trying to leave the country to fight in the war between Russia and Ukraine. The group, aged between 20 and 26, was arrested around Johannesburg on Sunday evening by a multidisciplinary team that included Interpol. Police said five people were detained at OR Tambo, South Africa’s biggest airport, while four others were arrested at a hotel in Bruma, east of Johannesburg. Authorities said the suspects were caught as they were “preparing to board flights out of the country”, but their final destination was unclear. The nine later appeared in court, according to state prosecutors. They were charged with contravening South Africa’s Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act, which outlaws mercenary activity without government permission. Police said the involvement of Interpol and other international law enforcement agencies indicated the suspects had allegedly violated laws in their home countries, prompting cooperation with South African authorities. Prosecutors did not say whether the group planned to fight for Russia or Ukraine, or which organisations allegedly facilitated their travel. The latest status was that the nine appeared in court after being charged.