Russia’s Africa Corps Abandoned Malian Troops On Battlefield

Russia’s Africa Corps abandoned Malian junta forces on the battlefield, resulting in significant losses among Malian troops.

Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (DIU) reported this.

According to the DIU, local rebel groups ambushed Russian mercenaries and forces of the local junta that were moving in a convoy near the settlement of Tabrishat in the Gao region of northeastern Mali.

The convoy was transporting more than 200 Russian mercenaries and more than 100 Malian army personnel.

At the height of the battle, when the convoy began suffering significant losses in armored vehicles and personnel from rebel fire, the Russians withdrew, leaving the Malian junta troops behind.

The Russians provided no fire support, including from the air.

According to preliminary estimates, this resulted in the deaths of about 60 Malian servicemen, while at least 30 others were captured. Dozens more were wounded.

It was also reported that the command of the Africa Corps in Mali treats local army personnel like slaves, with Malian soldiers performing manual labor for the Russians, including working as loaders and cleaning barracks.

In addition, Russians are establishing corruption networks among the command of Mali’s junta.

In particular, they provide individual servicemen with weapons, mostly small arms, that had previously been supplied as part of military assistance.

On July 6, Malian rebels from the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) claimed the destruction of a Russian Mi-24 attack helicopter near the cities of Gao and Anefis.

Based on the released footage, the helicopter was likely hit by fire from a ZU-23 23 mm anti-aircraft gun mounted on an off-road vehicle chassis.