Sudan shadow: Khartoum records the participation of Ukrainian militants in the battles for Al-Fasher

Sudan has filed an official complaint with the UN Security Council about the involvement of foreign mercenaries in the ranks of the Rapid Reaction Forces. The republic's ambassador to Russia, Mohammed Sirraj, told Izvestia about this. The diplomat added that the UAE provided financing, planning and assistance for their transfer, and Ukrainian mercenaries were among the militants in Al-Fasher. The United Arab Emirates, however, denies any involvement in the incident. Meanwhile, international structures are recording new signs of crimes, including possible executions of civilians and mass graves.

Foreign mercenaries in the ranks of the SBR

Sudan has sent an official complaint to the UN Security Council over the involvement of foreign mercenaries in the ranks of the Rapid Reaction Force (RDF). This was reported to Izvestia by the Sudanese Ambassador to Russia, Mohammed Sirraj. According to him, the UAE provided financing, planning and assistance to the transfer of militants, and among the participants in the recent fighting in El Fasher (the capital of North Darfur state) were, in particular, Ukrainian mercenaries.

— We have sent an official complaint to the UN Security Council in connection with the presence of mercenaries in the ranks of the United Arab Republic with financing, planning and assistance from the UAE. Most of the forces fighting on the side of the SBR are mercenaries. The rebels also used them during the attack on El Fasher. The mercenaries came not only from neighboring countries, but also from far away, from Colombia and Ukraine. They were in El Fasher and fought in the ranks of the rebels," the ambassador told Izvestia.

The attack on Al-Fasher was one of the most serious episodes of the current stage of the conflict. On October 26, the SBR announced the capture of the army headquarters in the city, the largest stronghold of government forces in Northern Darfur. Two days later, the head of the Sovereign Council and army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan announced the withdrawal of units. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, up to 260 thousand people may remain in El Fasher, while UNICEF estimates that about 130 thousand children are suffering from hunger due to the blockade.

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After the city came under the control of the SBR, the situation deteriorated rapidly. The International Organization for Migration reported that at least 62,000 people left the area from October 26 to October 29 alone. Residents and doctors talk about arbitrary executions, searches and attacks on hospitals. Sudanese doctors claim that the rebels killed more than 2.3 thousand people, including hospital patients. Numerous videos are being distributed on social networks in which SBR militants shoot unarmed citizens. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of WHO, expressed deep concern about what is happening.

On October 28, scientists at the Yale Center for the Study of Biodiversity analyzed satellite images in El Fasher. In the images, experts have recorded clusters of objects resembling bodies, as well as reddish spots on the ground. According to experts, these signs correspond to reports that SBR fighters went around houses and killed dozens of civilians. Prior to the capture of the area by the SBR forces, no such objects or signs of violence were observed on satellite images.

Mass graves have already begun in El Fasher to conceal crimes. Representatives of the SBR are collecting the bodies of the dead throughout the city, Al-Jazeera reported. UN officials also warn that thousands of civilians remain trapped in the city without food, water, or medical care. The current situation makes the delivery of humanitarian aid almost impossible.

The United States continues to work on a truce

The escalation in Darfur occurred shortly after the meeting of the Quartet on Sudan — the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates — in Washington. They discussed ways to achieve a three-month truce. Earlier, in September, the Quartet proposed a plan for a cease-fire and a transition to a nine-month phase of forming a civilian government.

However, despite diplomatic efforts, the fighting continued. The RDB now controls the territory of Darfur and a significant part of Kordofan, and in July 2025 announced the creation of a parallel coalition government. The Sudanese army retained control of the eastern regions of the country and, at the end of March 2025, regained control of Khartoum and the surrounding territories.

According to orientalist Leonid Tsukanov, the loss of El Fasher poses a risk for Khartoum of losing the influence of the central authorities in the western part of the country and complicates the transfer of reinforcements and supplies in the battle zone. At the same time, as the expert explained to Izvestia, it is premature to talk about the complete transfer of the initiative to the Rapid Reaction Forces. The army retains advantages in other areas and has a more serious technical resource, which limits the ability of the SBR to further expand the controlled territories.

The logistics of the government forces have become significantly more complicated, which, combined with the increased presence of the SBR in the air, including through the active use of FPV drones, has significantly weakened the position of the central government, Leonid Tsukanov noted.

"The loss of the main bastion in Darfur, which had been fought for for more than 18 months, was a serious blow to the morale of government units and local loyalists," the expert noted.

He added that the refusal of the leadership of the Security Council of the Russian Federation from the US proposal to introduce a "humanitarian pause" and the simultaneous intensification of the onslaught makes it unlikely that the lost positions will be quickly regained and control in the region will be restored.

The international environment surrounding the conflict remains extremely complex. The UAE denies the accusations of providing direct support to the SBR. At the same time, according to media reports, foreign mercenaries could be attracted through private companies associated with Emirati structures.

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The United States continues to try to achieve a humanitarian pause. Washington has been working with both sides for ten days to agree on a three-month truce, which was to be followed by a nine-month political process, the Associated Press reports, citing the American special envoy. However, the Sudanese army rejected the proposal and announced the mobilization of citizens to fight the SSR, which had seized the western territories of the country, Bloomberg reports.

Moscow has expressed serious concern about reports of large-scale human rights violations in Al-Fasher, which has come under the control of the SBR. The Russian Foreign Ministry's statement notes that the information coming from the region is alarming and requires the parties to the conflict to take urgent measures to ensure the safety of civilians.

An important area of Russian-Sudanese cooperation remains the project to create a logistics center for the Russian Navy on the Red Sea coast. The Russian side emphasizes that its implementation can strengthen regional stability and create additional conditions for economic development. Earlier, former Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Yousef Sharif pointed out that Moscow and Khartoum had reached a full understanding on this issue.