On Monday evening, Ukraine officially denied media reports claiming its involvement in supplying drones to armed groups in northern Mali. The French newspaper reported that Tuareg fighters in the region are utilizing Ukrainian drones, receiving assistance from Kyiv in their operations against the Malian army and the Russian Wagner Group, which supports the Malian government.
In a statement, Ukraine’s foreign ministry strongly rejected the allegations made by international media concerning the supply of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to these groups in Mali.
Mali has been facing a prolonged insurgency following military coups in 2020 and 2021, resulting in ongoing conflicts with Tuareg fighters, particularly near the border with Algeria. In August, Mali cut diplomatic ties with Ukraine after Kyiv suggested that the armed groups had acquired critical information for attacks that reportedly caused casualties among Malian soldiers and Wagner Group fighters.
Meanwhile, Russia, which has been expanding its influence in Africa, accused Ukraine of opening a “second front” against Moscow by supporting armed groups in countries allied with it. Since February 2022, Russia has been engaged in a conflict with Ukraine, leading to substantial casualties, primarily among Ukrainians.
