Ukraine's military intelligence agency, HUR, has claimed it was behind a recent ambush in Mali that targeted fighters from Russia's Wagner group. 

Since 2020, the Wagner PMC has been collaborating with the military junta in Mali, supporting the Malian Army in their fight against Tuareg rebels and jihadist groups.

The Russian group has faced serious allegations of human rights violations, with reports highlighting severe brutality against both militants and civilians. Despite its efforts, Wagner has not succeeded in overcoming the Tuareg rebels, who continue to control significant areas under the Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security, and Development (CSP-PSD).

On July 29, Telegram channels close to Wagner confirmed media reports that the group had been ambushed in the northern region near the Algerian border. The incident resulted in intense fighting and significant casualties, reportedly numbering in the dozens. Among those killed were a commander, Sergei Shevchenko, and Anton Yelizarov, who had previously served in Soledar and Bakhmut in 2023.

Speaking on television, Andry Yusov, a spokesman for HUR, claimed that Kyiv had provided intelligence that enabled the ambush. 

“The rebels received the necessary information, which enabled a successful military operation against Russian war criminals,” he said. “We won’t discuss the details at the moment, but there will be more to come.”

He did not imply that Ukrainian personnel were involved in the ambush. However, if confirmed, this would mark the first confirmed instance of Kyiv orchestrating the death of Wagner mercenaries outside Russian or Ukrainian territory, highlighting its strategic intent to counter Moscow's influence on a global scale.

In recent months, there have also been reports from Sudan and Syria suggesting possible involvement by Kyiv against Wagner, although these instances remain unverified. 

Later on July 29, the online outlet Kyiv Post published a photo allegedly taken in Mali, showing the Tuareg rebels posing with a Ukrainian flag.

Ukraine's actions in Mali carry substantial strategic implications. In Mali and other African nations, the Wagner Group finances the Kremlin by extracting resources like gold and timber. According to The Blood Gold Report, Russia has mined $2.5bn worth of gold in the past two years.