“African Corps” abandoned its allies in Mali during an ambush – Main Intelligence Directorate
This has been reported by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.
According to the Main Intelligence Directorate, the ambush took place in early July 2026 near the village of Tabrišat in the Gao region in north-eastern Mali. Rebel groups attacked a convoy comprising Russian military personnel and forces of the Malian junta.
When the convoy began to lose armoured vehicles and personnel, the Russians retreated, according to Ukrainian intelligence. The Malian military were left without ground or air cover.
The Main Intelligence Directorate emphasised that the Russian contingent was unable to provide support to its allies. The “African Corps” is equipped with “Orion” drones, as well as Mi-24 and Mi-8 helicopters; however, these were reportedly not deployed during the attack.
According to Ukrainian intelligence estimates, as a result of the battle, the insurgents killed at least 60 soldiers of the Malian junta and captured a further 30 or so. There is no independent confirmation of these figures or the circumstances of the Russian retreat in open sources.
What is known about the ambush near Tabrishat
Reuters and the Associated Press separately reported an attack on a joint convoy of the Malian army and the Russian “African Corps” in the Tabrishat area between the towns of Anefis and Gao on 18 July. Responsibility for the operation was claimed by the Al-Qaeda-linked group JNIM and the separatist Azawad Liberation Front.
A Reuters source close to the rebels reported more than 50 casualties among Malian soldiers and Russian fighters. The agency was unable to independently verify the number of dead and captured.
The rebels also released videos allegedly showing soldiers surrendering, destroyed equipment and captured vehicles. Reuters and AP have not confirmed the authenticity of these recordings.
The Malian army acknowledged the ambush but stated that it subsequently carried out “precision strikes” on enemy positions. According to the Malian command, the air force attacked three positions and helped the convoy to continue its advance.
The Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) dated the incident to early July, whilst Reuters and AP reported the ambush took place on 18 July. Based on the available data, it is impossible to determine with certainty whether this refers to a single battle or to separate attacks on Russian-Malian convoys in the same area.
How the Russians treat their allies in Mali
The GUR believes that the Russian command is using soldiers from the Malian junta as “cannon fodder”, assigning them the most dangerous and dirtiest tasks.
According to intelligence reports, Malian soldiers are forced to carry out menial tasks for the Russians, such as carrying loads and cleaning barracks.
The Main Intelligence Directorate also claims that representatives of the “African Corps” are establishing corruption networks within the Malian army’s command structure. The Russians are allegedly selling mainly small arms to local military personnel, weapons that had previously been provided to the country as military aid.
These claims regarding the exploitation of Malian soldiers and the sale of weapons have not been independently verified by open sources.
Why is Russia interested in Mali?
According to Ukrainian intelligence assessments, Moscow’s main objective in Mali is to gain access to the country’s natural resources, primarily its gold and uranium deposits. Russia is also seeking to maintain a military presence and expand its foothold to further strengthen its influence in Africa.
The “African Corps” supports Mali’s military government in its fight against Islamist groups and Tuareg separatists. The Russian unit has taken over a significant portion of the Wagner Group’s functions in the country.
The military junta came to power in Mali following the coups of 2020 and 2021 and promised to improve the security situation. However, attacks by rebel and jihadist groups continue, and their coordination poses an ever-greater threat to the country’s government.
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