Russia has alleged that Ukraine has created a “second front” in Africa after Mali and Niger severed diplomatic ties with Kiev, accusing it of backing “terrorist groups.”
According to Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, the Zelenskyy administration, unable to defeat Russia militarily, has opened a new front in Africa. Zakharova accused Ukraine of aligning with terrorist groups in countries that support Moscow.
Recently, Tuareg-led separatists claimed they had killed 84 members of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group and 47 Malian soldiers in northern Mali. Mali has accused a senior Ukrainian official of acknowledging Kiev’s involvement in the attack, leading to the diplomatic break on August 5.
Breaking off diplomatic relations with Ukraine
Government spokesperson Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga expressed astonishment at comments made by Andriy Yusov, spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, the GUR. Yusov had “acknowledged Ukraine’s involvement in a despicable and violent attack by armed terrorist groups,” which resulted in the deaths of Malian soldiers, according to Maiga.
In a Ukrainian television interview, Yusov claimed that the rebels had “received the necessary intelligence to execute their operation against Russian war criminals,” something the international community was aware of.
Niger announced on Tuesday that it was also terminating diplomatic relations with Ukraine “immediately.”
In connection with the same incident in Mali, Niger plans to request a UN Security Council discussion on Ukraine’s “aggression,” as stated by government spokesperson Amadou Abdramane in a televised statement.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry responded by asserting its commitment to “international law” and firmly rejecting the claims made by Mali’s transitional government, expressing regret over Bamako’s “premature” action.
