20 Mozambique servicemen and five Russian mercenaries were killed in an ambush just one month after reports that 200 Russian soldiers were sent to aid the Mozambique government. Russia has denied any involvement by sending troops to help Mozambique fight jihadists. The mercenaries are reported to have been members of the Wagner Group, a private military contractor with connections to Yevgeny Prigozhin. Reports also indicate that three vehicles were burned during the violent confrontation.