Russian Helicopter Shot Down in Mali; Crew and Troops Killed

Russian forces lost a helicopter near the city of Gao in Mali.

Russian propagandist Ilya Tumanov, who runs the aviation channel Fighterbomber, reported on this.

He did not specify the exact cause of the loss, but noted that the preliminary cause was “external fire impact,” implying a surface-to-air missile system. He also specified that both the crew and the mobile fire group being transported by the helicopter were killed.

Information about the downing of a Russian helicopter began to emerge as early as April 25 from representatives of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA).

At that time, no confirmations or photos of the wreckage were released. Later, a video of the alleged aircraft crash site appeared online, but it also did not allow the object to be identified.

As of today, Russia maintains a presence in this country through the African Corps of the Russian Ministry of Defense. Units of the corps take part in combat operations against Tuareg rebels in the north (Azawad) and Islamist groups (JNIM) in central regions.

Russian forces control key military bases in Sévaré, Gao, and Kidal, and also guard gold mining sites and other mineral deposits – compensation from the Malian authorities for “security services.”

Militarnyi previously reported that Tuareg separatists, together with jihadists, launched a coordinated offensive against the Malian junta and Russian mercenaries from the African Corps.