Mali: Ukraine's Military Intelligence Claims Role in Deadly Wagner Ambush
Tuareg rebels, who killed mercenaries of the Russian Wagner Group in an ambush in northern Mali last week, received key information from Kyiv, the Ukrainian military intelligence service (GRU) said on Monday....
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Facts
- Tuareg rebels, who killed mercenaries of the Russian Wagner Group in an ambush in northern Mali last week, received key information from Kyiv, the Ukrainian military intelligence service (GRU) said on Monday.[1]
- According to GRU spokesperson Andriy Yusov, the militants obtained 'necessary information' from Ukraine’s Security Service, enabling what he called 'a successful military operation against Russian war criminals.'[2]
- This comes as the Tuareg rebel coalition Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security, and Development (CSP-PSD) on Sunday claimed they killed dozens of soldiers and Wagner fighters near the Algerian border during days of fighting.[3]
- The rebels claimed that a significant amount of equipment and weaponry was seized or damaged during the fighting in the Tinzaouatene district and that prisoners were captured. They also mentioned that seven rebels had been killed and 12 wounded.[3]
- Following the attack, the Tuareg separatist forces reportedly expressed their solidarity with Ukraine's fight against Russia while offering to hand over Wagner prisoners to Ukraine 'as a sign of support and solidarity.'[4]
- Meanwhile, a former commander of Wagner's 13th assault group claimed on Monday that 'more than 80' mercenaries and Malian soldiers were killed and over 15 captured in the ambush, urging Moscow to help Wagner's forces in Mali.[5]
Sources: [1]Guardian, [2]CNN, [3]Verity, [4]UKRINFORM and [5]Newsweek.
Narratives
- Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by TASS. The involvement of Ukraine's military intelligence service in the terrorist attack on Malian soldiers and Russian advisers should be an eye-opener to the whole world. While claims that Ukraine and its Western masters were backing terrorists in Mali were previously considered 'Russian propaganda,' Kyiv has now revealed the truth. The malign forces that seek to hit Russia at the expense of the Malians must be taught a lesson.
- Anti-Russia narrative, as provided by Firstpost. That the rebels received crucial GRU support proves that Ukraine is holding Wagner Group war criminals accountable everywhere in the world. Moscow is only concerned with Mali's resources, with profits flowing directly into Russia's war chest. By targeting Wagner in Africa, Kyiv disrupts Moscow's shadow operations and neutralizes some of the most experienced Wagner fighters, benefitting both Ukraine and the Malian people.
