Russia's Wagner group declares mission accomplished in Mali
Photo: Wagner Private Military Company leaves Mali and returns to Russia (Getty Images)
The Wagner Private Military Company has announced that it has completed its "main mission" in Mali and is leaving the country. The mercenaries are returning to Russia nearly a year after being defeated by the Tuaregs, according to the Telegram channel Razgruzka Wagnera, which is affiliated with the leadership of the Wagner Group.
The Wagner Group claimed they had fought "side by side with the people of Mali against terrorism" for three and a half years.
"We eliminated thousands of militants and their commanders who had terrorized peaceful civilians for years. We helped local patriots build a strong and disciplined army capable of defending their homeland. And we completed our primary objective — all regional capitals have returned under the control of the legitimate government. Mission accomplished. Wagner PMC returns home," the statement read.
Attack on Wagner Group in Mali
In July of last year, Tuaregs from the CSP-PSD movement posted photos and videos online showing a destroyed Wagner PMC convoy in Mali. According to available information, the clashes took place on July 25 and 26 in the Tinzaouaten area, near the Algerian border.
As a result of the fighting, dozens of Wagner mercenaries were either killed or taken prisoner.
Earlier, Ukraine's Defense Intelligence (HUR) hinted that the rebels had received advance intelligence and all the necessary resources to carry out the military operation against the Russian mercenaries in Mali.
For more details about the attack on Russian mercenaries and who the Tuaregs are, see the material by RBC-Ukraine.
Additionally, it is widely believed that Ukraine's Defense Forces dealt a major blow to Wagner during the battle for Bakhmut, after which the group ceased to function as a serious combat unit.
According to media reports, during the assaults on Bakhmut, Wagner PMC lost at least 19,547 fighters, over 17,000 of whom were prisoners.
