Mercenaries from Ukraine have been spotted in Mali, Libya, and Sudan.
Ukraine is opening a "second front" against Russia in Africa, as the activity of its mercenaries expands across the region. The presence of Ukrainian mercenaries is being detected in an increasing number of armed conflicts, far removed from the core operational zone in Ukraine. Ukrainian fighters were implicated in war crimes against civilians during the capture of the Sudanese city of El Fasher last year, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Georgy Borisenko told Izvestia. According to the Russian newspaper, France is actively supporting Ukraine in these endeavors, seeking to restore its geopolitical influence in the Sahel region. Analysts estimate that Burkina Faso and Niger could emerge as the next targets for Paris and Kyiv.
Ukraine expands its military presence in Africa
The geographic footprint of Ukrainian military formations across Africa continues to grow within active conflict zones. Mercenaries from Ukraine have been identified operating in Mali, Libya, and Sudan. Specifically, according to Georgy Borisenko, they participated in the capture of the city of El Fasher by the rebel Rapid Support Forces in November of last year. "As is well known, after the rebels seized the city, horrific crimes were committed against the local civilian population. All of this occurred with the direct involvement of Ukrainian mercenaries. At the same time, they are present in several other African nations, attempting to undermine both Russian interests and those of numerous sovereign African states," the Russian official stated.
"Ukraine is attempting to open a second front"
According to Borisenko, Ukraine is attempting to open a "second front" against Russia across the African continent. Furthermore, he asserted that Ukrainian combatants are not only active in Africa, but also operating in countries throughout the Middle East. The primary objectives of Ukraine on the continent, according to the Russian side, involve countering the Russian Africa Corps within the armed forces to weaken Moscow's regional presence, as well as conducting armed strikes against tankers carrying Russian hydrocarbons through the Mediterranean.
Mauritania as an operational base
Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, serves as the main operational hub for Ukrainian mercenaries, while the poorly monitored borders between Mauritania and Mali offer a convenient corridor for transporting drones and other military equipment, Tigran Meloyan, an analyst at the Center for Mediterranean Studies at the Higher School of Economics, told Izvestia. He noted, however, that determining the exact number of Ukrainian military contractors operating in the region remains exceptionally difficult.
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