Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, GUR, has asserted its role in a recent ambush that killed fighters from Russia’s Wagner group in Mali, West Africa. This incident, thousands of miles from the Ukrainian frontlines, saw an al Qaeda affiliate claim responsibility for the deaths of 50 Wagner mercenaries and 10 Malian soldiers in the northern Kidal region near Algeria’s border.
The ambush coincided with claims from the Tuareg rebel movement, CSP-PSD, that they had inflicted casualties on Wagner and Malian forces at Tinzaouaten. A Telegram channel linked to Wagner confirmed significant losses, including the death of commander Sergei Shevchenko, during intense five-day battles involving heavy weapons and drones. Andrii Yusov, GUR’s spokesman, hinted at Ukraine’s provision of critical support to the rebels, without specifying direct involvement of Ukrainian personnel.
“Kyiv Post obtained an exclusive photo Monday, July 29 from sources in Ukraine’s defense and security sector showing Tuareg rebels posing with a Ukrainian flag after having just dealt a major defeat to Russian state-funded Wagner mercenaries in Mali”
A bit earlier, Andriy Yusov,… pic.twitter.com/KsKaZtq95X
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) July 29, 2024
The Malian government, combating northern insurgencies for over a decade, enlisted Wagner’s help following a 2020 coup. In response to Wagner’s activities, including those in Ukraine, the US sanctioned its Malian leader in 2022. The Kyiv Post published an authenticated photo showing Malian rebels with a Ukrainian flag.
Despite Prigozhin’s death after a failed coup and subsequent plane explosion, Wagner’s African operations persist. Serhii Kuzan of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center explained Ukraine’s strategy to undermine Wagner globally, noting the dual benefits of reducing Wagner’s military capabilities and avenging war crimes committed in Ukraine.
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