Massive losses for Russian mercs in Mali ambush
Photo: A convoy of Russian mercenaries was shot dead in Mali (Getty Images)
A column of Russian mercenaries from the African Corps was ambushed in Mali. Some of the fighters had previously served in the Wagner Group, according to the OSINT project Tatarigami_UA on X.
Preliminary data indicates that the attack occurred on August 1. There is information that at least three mercenaries were killed.
"Although the actual number of casualties is likely four killed and eight wounded from the African Corps," the report states.
Analysis of the data suggests that Malian army soldiers may also have been among the dead, and the attack may have been carried out by militants from JNIM (Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin), an al-Qaeda affiliate in the Sahel. There are no signs of Tuareg rebel involvement.
"According to a source with a relatively reliable reputation, the convoy was attacked with machine guns and grenade launchers. At the same time, one grenade likely struck an armored vehicle in the convoy, possibly an MRAP," the report said.
According to Tatarigami_UA, a Ural-4320 MTP-A2.1 truck was hit. In January 2025, hundreds of Russian vehicles were recorded being transferred to Mali via Guinea, followed by at least two more deliveries.
OSINT analysts believe the damaged Ural MTP was a mobile maintenance workshop for servicing and repairing equipment.
Photo: A convoy of Russian mercenaries was shot in Mali (x.com/Tatarigami_UA)
Photo: A convoy of Russian mercenaries was shot in Mali (x.com/Tatarigami_UA)
Russian Telegram channels, including one affiliated with the Wagner PMC, have confirmed the deaths of mercenaries from the African Corps in Mali. The ambush was carried out near the city of Tenenkou, in the Mopti region.
Attack on Wagner fighters in Mali
As a reminder, in July 2024, Tuaregs from the CSP-PSD movement posted photos and videos online showing a destroyed convoy of Wagner PMC mercenaries in Mali.
The Malian rebel group reported that 84 Wagner fighters were killed in the attack.
At the same time, British intelligence recently noted that the Kremlin is withdrawing Wagner personnel from Mali and replacing them with the African Corps.
