Ukraine has vehemently denied allegations that it has supplied drones to rebels fighting against the Malian army and Russian-backed mercenaries, following a report by the French newspaper Le Monde.
The controversy erupted after Le Monde reported that Ukrainian drones were providing “discreet but decisive support” to Tuareg rebels in Mali. This claim has intensified regional tensions, with Mali and its neighbors Niger and Burkina Faso accusing Kyiv of supporting terrorism in the Sahel region.
In a strongly worded statement released Monday, Ukraine’s foreign ministry declared, “Ukraine strongly rejects the accusations that have recently been released by the international media outlets about the alleged involvement of our state in the supply of UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles] to the rebels in Mali.” The ministry further denied allegations of arming, providing information, or giving “support to the terrorist coalition.”
The situation in Mali has been complex since the country’s junta-led government severed ties with France, its former colonial power, in 2022. Mali subsequently aligned with Russia in an attempt to combat a long-standing insurgency in the north. However, this shift has not quelled the unrest, and Mali’s forces, along with their Russian allies, have recently suffered significant losses.
The controversy deepened following remarks by Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Kyiv’s military intelligence service, who stated in late July that rebels in Mali had “received necessary information” to successfully carry out an attack. This attack reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 84 Russia-backed fighters and 47 Malian soldiers in clashes with Tuareg separatists and al-Qaeda-linked fighters.
Le Monde’s report suggests that since Yusov’s statement, Mali rebel commanders have reluctantly acknowledged cooperation with Ukraine, although they remain reticent about the origin of their drones.
The Ukrainian foreign ministry has called for an end to the “spreading of false information that repeats the fake narratives of the aggressor state Russia’s propaganda.” This statement underscores the geopolitical complexities at play, with Ukraine positioning the controversy as part of Russia’s broader disinformation campaign.
Mali severed diplomatic relations with Ukraine in August, following Yusov’s remarks, with a top official accusing Ukraine of violating the country’s sovereignty.
