Ambush by separatist group in the west African country routed Kremlin-backed Wagner group, leaving up to 80 Russians and dozens of Malian government troops dead. Russian mercenaries board a helicopter in northern Mali AP Mali has cut diplomatic ties with Ukraine for providing support to rebels in the west African state who routed fighters from the Kremlin-backed Wagner mercenary group. Echoing Russian rhetoric, Mali’s military junta labelled Ukraine “neo-Nazi” and “villainous” after Kyiv’s its military intelligence service confirmed it had assisted a separatist rebel group in northern Mali as part efforts to take the fight to Russia outside its borders. A pro-Kremlin media outlet put Wagner losses at 20 or more, including a senior commander, during an ambush by 1,000 Tuareg rebels at the end of July. Other sources said up to 80 Russians and dozens of Malian government troops were killed in days of fighting. People gather near a makeshift memorial in Moscow during a commemoration ceremony for Wagner fighters killed in Mali YULIA MOROZOVA/REUTERS Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for GUR, the Ukrainian military intelligence service, said it had provided the rebels with “intelligence — and not only intelligence — to allow them to carry out a successful military operation”. The abrupt end to Bamako’s relations with Kyiv will be welcomed in Moscow as it attempts to form new allegiances in Africa to offset its diplomatic isolation after invading Ukraine, and establish a strategic base for a prolonged conflict with western powers. Wagner has helped the Russian government extract gold from the continent worth at least £2 billion since the start of the war in Ukraine, according to the Blood Gold Report research programme.
via thetimes: Mali cuts ties with ‘neo-Nazi’ Ukraine after Kyiv backs Tuareg rebels