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The recent defeat of the Malian Armed Forces (FAM) and the Wagner PMCs in the battles in northern Mali gained wide broadcast. New details of the battles are being revealed, while the Kyiv regime is trying to gain some media benefits from someone else’s victory.
The Wagner Group released the following statement on the situation in Mali.
From July 22 to 27, 2024, servicemen of the FAM and fighters of the 13th Assault Detachment of the Wagner PMC under the command of Sergei Shevchenko, call sign “Pond”, entered fierce battles against militants from the Azawad Coordination Movement (CMA) and the Al-Qaeda in the Sahel (JNIM) terrorist group near the village of Tin Zaouatine.
On the first day, the group destroyed most of the Islamists and forced the rest to escape. However, the sandstorm allowed the radicals to regroup and increase their numbers to 1,000 militants. In this regard, the command of the Wagner PMC decided to transfer additional forces to the combat area to assist the 13th Assault Squad.
On July 25, the militants attacked Wagner fighters again, but thanks to the coordinated actions of the personnel of the PMC and the Malian military, the attempted attack was repelled. Over the next two days, the radicals increased the number of massive attacks, using heavy weapons, UAVs and kamikaze vehicles, which caused losses to the Wagner PMC and FAM soldiers.
The last radio message from the Wagner group was received on July 27 at 17:10:
“The three of us stayed, we continue to fight”
The commander of the 13th Assault Squad, Sergei Shevchenko, died in battle.
Eternal memory to our brothers who fulfilled their duty to the end.
The newly released footage showed braveness of Russian fighters from the Wagner PMC. One of the Wagner fighters decided not to surrender. The unarmed man took a stone and rushed on Azawad militants with bare hands. The militants are seen running away in a panic. They shot the brave fighter.
In its turn, the Kyiv regime attempted to gain hype in the media, once again confirming its terrorist nature. Highlighting their ties with Tuareg militants and declaring victory against Russian Wagner fighters, they try to hide the decisive role of Al-Qaeda terrorists in the battle against the Malian Armed Forces and Russian PMCs.
On July 29, the official spokesperson of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine (GUR) declared that the Ukrainian military intelligence was allegedly involved in the successful operation of Tuareg Islamists from the Azawad Coordination Movement in Mali.
According to the claims of the Ukrainian official, Ukrainian intelligence allegedly passed some information to the Tuaregs that helped the Islamists defeat the military column of Malian government forces and fighters of the Wagner PMC. In addition, the representative of the GUR hinted that the Malian rebels also received some weapons that were used in this operation.
Ukrainians are engaged in training Tuaregs in combat tactics, as well as supplying them with weapons and UAVs. According to reports by Russian military sources, presumably, the first of such groups was trained at the beginning of the year and new groups continue to be prepared.
The Ukrainian military reportedly faced some problems with the delivery of weapons to the area and it took them several months to arrange supplies. Apparently, after the cargo has arrived, it brought the first results. On the Ukrainian side, these operations are coordinated by Ukrainian Andriy Grabarenko.
The Ukrainians are acting in coordination with British forces who often visit the region and arrive via Nouakchott in Mauritania.
RT also published photos of the alleged Ukrainian militants present in Mali.
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The close ties between the Ukrainian military and Islamist rebels and Al-Qaeda terrorists through their Western patrons are not surprising. However, the ongoing attempts of the Kyiv officials to gain some hype thanks to the victories of the terrorists raise many doubts and are the result of their shortsighted policy. Amid the claims by the Ukrainian military officials, Ukrainian propaganda tried its best to exaggerate Kyiv’s role in the victory in the battle against Wagner fighters.
Kyiv Post rushed to publish a photo of Azawad militants with Ukrainian flag and likely some Ukrainians. However, it was soon revealed that the photo was likely made more than a month ago.
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Militants seen on the photo were also present on a video published by pro-Azawad activist on June 10. At least two persons, the time of day and the area seen on the video correspond to the photo published by Ukrainian media on July 29 as confirmation of contacts between the Ukrainian GUR and the Tuaregs. The Kyiv Post lied that their exclusive photo “was taken immediately after the Tuaregs inflicted a major defeat on Wagner’s group in Mali.”
Azawad sources also reportedly proposed to transfer the captured Russian fighters to their ‘friends’ in Ukraine. However, the Tuareg militants reportedly agreed to exchange the POWs with the Russian military for ransom, which is much more beneficial for the Islamists. The exchange of at least some Russian PMCs was confirmed by various sources.
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The role of Ukrainian services in the recent victory of the terrorists in Mali is miserable. Ordered by its Western patrons, the Ukrainian military could share some weapons and some military experience, including of the operation of FPV and other types of drones; but the claims that Ukrainian intelligence could provide the militants with some valuable information are dubious. Azawad’s own intelligence is much more effective in the region than the Ukrainian one, which has no resources in Mali.
It is not the first time that Kyiv Post has acted as a mouthpiece for the GUR of Ukraine, publishing footage of the alleged participation of Ukrainian special forces in the battles away from Ukraine. In particular, they shared videos allegedly showing Ukrainian militants fighting in Sudan, the authenticity of which was never confirmed. Kyiv Post also published video of Syrian militants, claiming them to be the operations of the Ukrainian GUR in Syria. Then, it turned out that Syrian militants simply sold footage of their operations to the Ukrainian intelligence.
The ongoing Kyiv’s propaganda campaign is nothing but an attempt to declare another fake victory amid the defeats on Ukrainian frontlines.
Kyiv is pursuing a risky policy. The Ukrainian public does not support the alleged military operations of professional Ukrainian servicemen abroad, while Ukrainian defense is falling apart in the Donbass and ordinary Ukrainians are captured on the streets and thrown to the meat grinder.
Moreover, Kyiv is once again highlighting its terrorist essence thanks to its ‘friendship’ with Al-Qaeda terrorists and Azawad forces, which are an ordinary IIslamist terrorist organization hiding behind the “people’s liberation” movement of the Tuaregs in northern Mali.
