Budanov: Ukraine Thwarted Russia’s Plans to Expand Its Sphere of Influence in Africa

Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Office of the President, stated that Ukraine thwarted Russia’s plans to expand its sphere of influence in Africa.

He announced this during a speech at the Justice Conference international conference in Kyiv on February 23. Suspilne published a video of his speech.

According to him, Russia sees Ukraine only as a tool for restoring the former Soviet empire’s areas of influence in Europe, Asia, Africa, and even on the American continent and in the Arctic.

“But we [ed. note: Ukraine] have stood in the way of these plans, both in Europe and, incidentally, in Africa,” Budanov emphasized.

At the same time, the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine did not disclose any details on this matter.

Actions in Africa against Russians

Back in the fall of 2023, CNN reported on the destruction of a camp belonging to the Russian Wagner Group, involving the use of drones and personnel from the Ukrainian special services in Sudan.

The media then cited a Ukrainian military source who described the operation as carried out by “non-Sudanese military personnel.”

When asked whether Ukraine was behind the operation, the source only noted that “responsibility is likely to be attributed to the Ukrainian special services.”

At the same time, journalists obtained a video clip from a thermal-imaging camera that captured part of the night operation, as well as footage of a drone control panel with a Ukrainian interface.

Later, another video confirmation appeared of the Ukrainian special services’ participation in the war in Sudan against Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group. The footage shows a sniper at work.

Commenting on this material, the DIU only referred to the words of Kyrylo Budanov that “Ukraine will destroy Russian war criminals anywhere in the world, wherever they may be.”

It should be noted that Russia is actively recruiting citizens of African countries to participate in the war against Ukraine.