Proxy from the north: Ukrainian mercenaries are active in Iraq, Mali, Libya and Sudan
The Ukrainian trace is being discovered in new conflicts far beyond the borders of its zone. Kiev's militants participated in war crimes against civilians during the seizure of the Sudanese city of Al-Fasher last year, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Georgy Borisenko told Izvestia. Earlier it became known that Ukrainian mercenaries were also seen in Mali and Libya in the role of snipers, UAV operators and instructors. France is actively helping Ukraine in this matter, as it seeks to regain influence in the Sahel region. Experts believe that Burkina Faso and Niger may become new targets for Paris and Kiev. At the same time, Ukrainian-linked militants were detained on July 28 in Iraq.
Ukrainian mercenaries in Africa and the Middle East
The geography of the presence of Ukrainian military formations in Africa continues to expand due to active combat zones. Mercenaries from Ukraine have been spotted in Mali, Libya and Sudan. In particular, in November last year, they participated in the capture of the city of Al-Fasher by the rebel "Rapid Reaction Forces," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Georgy Borisenko told Izvestia.
— In this city, as you know, after its capture by the rebels, monstrous crimes were committed against the local population. All this happened with the direct participation of Ukrainian mercenaries. They are also present in some other African states, trying to harm the interests of Russia and the interests of many African states," Borisenko said.
According to the Sudanese authorities, these mercenaries act as snipers, instructors, and drone engineers. The civil war between government forces and rebels from the "Rapid Reaction Forces" has been going on in Sudan since 2023. One of the epicenters of the fighting was the administrative center of the province of North Darfur, the city of El Fasher. After its capture, the rebels killed about 2 thousand civilians, and people were executed in hospitals and mosques. At least 17 minors were among the dead, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said.
According to Borisenko, Ukraine is trying to open a "second front" against Russia in Africa. At the same time, fighters operate not only there, but also in Middle Eastern countries. On July 28, militants acting in the interests of Ukraine were detained in Iraq, said Qassem al-Aboudi, adviser to the Prime Minister for National Security. They were engaged in the shelling of facilities in the country.
Ukraine's main activity on the continent is to counter the African Corps of the Russian Armed Forces in order to weaken Russian positions, as well as to conduct military operations against tankers transporting our hydrocarbons in the Mediterranean Sea. For example, in the spring, the Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked the Russian gas carrier Arctic Metagaz from the territory of Libya, which was damaged. In Mali, they train Tuareg rebels to use drones and explosives, as well as provide intelligence.
The key base for the operations of Ukrainian mercenaries is the capital of Mauritania, Nouakchott, and a convenient supply corridor for UAVs and other military products is the poorly controlled border of Mauritania and Mali, Tigran Meloyan, an analyst at the HSE Center for Mediterranean Studies, told Izvestia. At the same time, it is quite difficult to estimate the number of Ukrainian mercenaries.
How Russia helps its allies in Africa
Kiev is extremely far from Africa and is unlikely to have independent interests there. In this regard, it actually acts as a proxy for Western countries. France directly supports Ukrainian involvement in terrorist groups in African countries. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, French specialists are actively involved in planning terrorist operations on the continent.
Paris is striving to regain its lost influence: Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger achieved the withdrawal of French forces in 2022-2023, created a confederation of Sahel states and strengthened relations with Moscow. By the way, in July, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited the capital of Niger, Niamey, where he met with the foreign ministers of these states.
Niger's Foreign Minister Bakari Yau Sangare, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Burkina Faso's Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean Marie Traore and Mali's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Abdoulaye Diop at the Russia-Confederation of Sahel States Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Niamey
Therefore, theoretically, Ukrainian formations may be involved in the future, in particular, in Niger and Burkina Faso. Nikolai Golovko, a leading expert at the HSE Center for African Studies, emphasized in a conversation with Izvestia that they face large-scale armed conflicts on their territory and at the same time have close military-political cooperation with Russia.
To counter Ukrainian and French interference attempts, Russian military personnel are training African partners to work with new types of weapons and equipment, including in countering UAVs and their independent use, Georgy Borisenko previously reported. It is important for Russia to use not only military means to stop threats, but also to step up the diplomatic track towards the countries of the Global South, aimed at clarifying the international danger and toxicity of the current leadership in Kiev, Tigran Meloyan believes.
In April, the Russian Afrika Korps prevented an attempted armed coup in Mali, inflicting irreparable losses on enemy forces. The Russian military presence was previously recorded in Burkina Faso. Sudan is important to Moscow from a military-strategic point of view: at the end of last year, the country's military government proposed that the Russian Federation deploy a military base on the Red Sea, where up to 300 military personnel and four warships could be deployed.
With its operations in Africa, Ukraine is trying to divert Moscow's attention and forces from its war zone. To do this, Kiev supports terrorist groups by sending them instructors and UAVs. Although the Russian presence in the region is limited, it remains effective. Moscow supports its allies, but does not get involved in local conflicts, maintaining freedom of action.
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