Ukraine has expanded its war against Russia far beyond its own borders, with Ukrainian drone operators working in the deserts of Mali to help local forces fighting Russian troops, CNN reported.
According to the network, around 15 Ukrainian specialists have been sent to Mali. Their work is focused mainly on support, training and operational assistance for insurgents in the north of the country.
Remote Coordination From Afar
The Ukrainian military personnel are working alongside a mostly Tuareg group known as the Azawad Liberation Front. Tuareg communities have long sought greater autonomy for the Azawad region of northern Mali.
One Ukrainian operator told CNN that he coordinates the work of local fighters remotely. He said the signal from a drone reaches him over the internet, and he then relays instructions to the operator by radio, telling them what to do and where to fly. He said he does not go to the front line himself, as he was given an order from his command not to.
Training Spreads Across Africa and the Middle East
A source in Ukrainian intelligence told CNN that Ukrainian specialists have also been present in Sudan. In addition, military personnel from Chad, Niger and Burkina Faso have travelled to Mali to learn how to use drones from Ukrainian troops.
Ukraine has also sent teams of military experts to at least five countries in the Middle East, where they trained local forces to counter Iranian-made Shahed attack drones, which Russia has used extensively against Ukraine. In exchange for this military know-how, CNN reported, Kyiv received security cooperation agreements and promises of ammunition supplies.
Adapting Tactics to Desert Conditions
Conditions in Mali differ sharply from the front line in Ukraine. Daytime temperatures regularly exceed 43 degrees Celsius before dropping sharply at night, and sand and dust create additional problems for equipment.
A representative of Ukrainian intelligence said the heat and dust wear out equipment faster than in Ukraine, forcing crews to adapt filters, cooling systems, electronics protection and batteries.
The tactics also differ from those used at home. The source said that in Ukraine the fighting is high intensity, with massed strikes and constant pressure, while in Mali it is more a war of manoeuvre across large territories, involving ambushes, control of routes, small-group operations and reliance on knowledge of the terrain. According to the source, the Ukrainians teach tactics to local fighters, while Ukrainian troops in turn pick up survival and combat skills for desert terrain from them.
Operations Near Kidal
Ukrainian troops also told CNN about operations around the strategically important town of Kidal in northern Mali. Earlier this year, Tuareg rebels and fighters linked to al-Qaeda simultaneously attacked Russian forces there. Russia accused Kyiv of involvement in the operation, claiming that Ukrainian and European instructors had trained the rebels before the assault.
A representative of Ukrainian intelligence told CNN that the goal of such operations is to put pressure on Russia and to show that Moscow is not a reliable ally for other countries. He said Ukraine is turning its experience with drones into a tool of foreign policy.
Naval Drone Missions in Libya
CNN reported that Ukrainian operators of naval drones are also present in the northwest of Libya, where their unit uses a base in Misrata as a staging point for operations against what it called Russia's shadow fleet, the network of oil tankers Russia uses to get around international sanctions and keep selling oil to fund its war.
On one occasion, a Ukrainian naval drone carrying explosives broke away from its operators and ended up near the Greek island of Lefkada. Greece lodged a diplomatic protest with Ukraine, after which Kyiv formally apologised.
Russia's Rival Push Into Africa
Moscow, meanwhile, is actively building up its military presence in the Sahel. After the dismantling of the Wagner mercenary group, Russia merged its remnants with regular troops to create the Africa Corps, which supports governments loyal to the Kremlin.
Russia is trying to establish itself in a region where a security vacuum opened up after French and other Western forces withdrew, gaining political influence, money and access to natural resources in return.
Ukrainian intelligence believes the rivalry playing out in Africa carries strategic as well as military significance for Kyiv. One operator told CNN that it puts pressure on Russia, and that the whole situation has both psychological and real consequences.
Russia's Wider Military Footprint
UNIAN has previously reported that Russia is rapidly expanding its military presence in Libya, stepping up operations at six key air bases. According to the United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, this is part of a wider effort to expand Moscow's influence across North Africa and the Sahel.
The expansion is centred on the air bases of Jufra, Al Khadim, Gardabiya, Brak al-Shati, Maaten al-Sarra and Tamanhint, located in central, eastern and southern Libya.
According to Ukraine's Foreign Ministry, Russia has recruited at least 2,982 people from 37 African countries into its armed forces.
