Ukrainian special forces have been conducting combat operations against Russian-backed entities in Sudan. This move comes as part of a broader strategy to counter Russian military and economic operations on a global scale. The Wall Street Journal reports that at least 100 members of the Ukrainian intelligence special forces, specifically from the Timur unit of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, were deployed in Sudan to combat the Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary organization involved in various conflicts supporting Moscow’s interests.
The special unit “Timur” of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, soldiers of the company,,Paragon,,💪🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/g1gEynkPYm
— Feher_Junior (@Feher_Junior) January 29, 2024
The operation was initiated at the request of Sudan’s military ruler, Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, following a phone call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The request was rooted in a mutual interest, as Wagner Group has aligned themselves with the Rapid Support Force (RSF), who is actively engaged in the Civil War against the Sudanese Government. The Russian entity is known to trade operational expertise in exchange for mining rights and natural resources currently being used to fund the war in Ukraine. Additionally, al-Burhan has been quietly supplying Ukraine with military aid since the conflict began in 2022, incentivizing the continued relationship between Ukraine and Sudan.
Sudan. In last 10 months, around 20-30K killed, 8m driven from their homes by fighting, inc 1.7m who fled country. Indiscriminate attacks by both sides in densepopulated civilian areas, w brutality used espec by RSF/Janjaweed now supported by Wagnerhttps://t.co/JQdjW5c5Uz
— S Sebag Montefiore (@simonmontefiore) March 3, 2024
Throughout the deployment, which spanned from August 2023 to early 2024, Ukrainian forces engaged the Rapid Support Force (RSF), as well as the Wagner Group. The use of advanced tactics, including the first-time deployment of attack drones in Sudan, marked the operational strategy of Ukrainian forces. These engagements resulted in the elimination of two Wagner mercenaries and the capture of another, alongside significant impacts on the RSF and associated Sudanese forces.
The special unit “Timur” of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, soldiers of the company,,Paragon,,💪🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/g1gEynkPYm
— Feher_Junior (@Feher_Junior) January 29, 2024
The presence and activities of Ukrainian forces in Sudan have been somewhat shrouded in ambiguity, with Ukrainian Defence Intelligence Chief Kyrylo Budanov emphasizing the global nature of their conflict with Russia without explicit confirmation of military personnel in Sudan.
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