Ukraine's intelligence chief hints at African operations as Mali conflict report circulates

The conflict between Ukraine and Russia may now be extending into the African Sahel region. A recent investigation by the US media outlet CNN alleges that approximately 15 Ukrainian drone specialists are currently supporting Tuareg rebels in northern Mali. These rebels are engaged in a conflict against the military government in Bamako and its Russian allies.

The report claims the Ukrainian team provides drone training, operational planning, and remote support for drone missions. CNN published this finding in September. The news has renewed questions about whether the war between Kyiv and Moscow is being fought on African soil. However, Ukrainian military intelligence, known as the HUR, has not provided specific confirmation of these details.

Marta Oliynyk-D'omochko, a coordinator of the African Studies Program at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, suggests a strategic motive for the involvement. She states that Ukraine aims to weaken Russia's global influence. If Russia's military presence decreases, the economic opportunities tied to that presence would also diminish. She describes the relationship with the Tuareg as a tactical arrangement rather than a comprehensive alliance.

Russian historian Irina Filatova, a professor emeritus at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, also finds the support plausible. She argues that Ukrainians view Russian troops anywhere as legitimate targets. Setbacks in Mali could tie up Russian resources and damage Moscow's reputation as a security partner. However, Filatova notes she lacks independent evidence to confirm the specific involvement.

The Tuareg separatist group, the Azawad Liberation Front, cooperates with the Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen, a jihadist group affiliated with al-Qaeda. This alliance creates political risks for Kyiv. If Ukraine supports the Tuareg, it could face accusations of indirectly supporting Islamist fighters through shared operations or equipment.

Suspicions of Ukrainian involvement date back to July 2024. At that time, an ambush on Russian Wagner fighters near Tinzaouaten resulted in heavy losses for the Russian paramilitary group. The HUR spokesperson Andriy Yusov said the Tuareg received necessary information for the attack but denied direct Ukrainian involvement.

The current situation remains unclear. Kyrylo Budanov, the former head of military intelligence and current chief of staff to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, posted on X on September 7 that Ukrainian intelligence protects interests worldwide. He referenced operations in the burning desert sands without naming Mali specifically. The HUR told Deutsche Welle it might provide information later but did not answer questions about personnel deployment or political approval.

Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have severed diplomatic relations with Ukraine. In September, Mali's Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop accused Ukraine at the United Nations of supporting terrorist groups to undermine the country's territorial integrity. Diop did not provide specific evidence for this claim. The three Sahel nations are ruled by military governments that have deepened cooperation with Russia since the 2020 and 2021 coups.