The bodies of 35 Wagner Group mercenaries killed during fighting in Mali this summer have been returned to Russia, as reported by the state-run news agency.
The fighters reportedly faced significant casualties during a two-day battle with an armed Tuareg group near the Algerian border in July, one of the deadliest encounters for Wagner in its overseas operations. The bodies were retrieved during a joint operation by Malian forces and their Russian allies on the night of September 30, 2024.
Alexander Ivanov, head of the Officer’s Union for International Security, told that the soldiers would receive full honors upon burial but did not disclose the number of fighters repatriated. Reports from the time of the attack, which gained international attention, suggested as many as 80 Wagner fighters were killed, though the group has not released official figures.
Wagner confirmed the repatriation on October 10 via the Telegram messaging app, stating, “An operation was successfully completed to return the bodies of our brothers, who in July 2024 heroically took up the fight with armed groups despite being outnumbered.”
Wagner’s presence in Africa is seen as part of a larger Russian strategy to expand influence on the continent. After the death of Wagner’s leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in 2023, the Russian Defense Ministry took control of the group’s African operations, incorporating them into the larger military organization known as Africa Corps. Despite leadership changes, Wagner remains active in places like Mali, continuing its central role in Russia’s foreign policy in Africa.
On October 9, Ukrainian intelligence told the Kyiv Post that Malian forces, likely supported by Wagner mercenaries, killed seven and injured three in a retaliatory strike in northern Mali, in areas controlled by the CSP-PSD. This incident occurred on the night of October 5.