Ukrainian Intelligence Hints at Ongoing Operations Against Wagner in Mali

On July 29, Andrii Yusov, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, commented on the defeat of the Wagner mercenaries, stating that Tuareg rebels “received the necessary information and other means, which allowed them to conduct a successful military operation against Russian war criminals.”

According to Yusov, this marks the continuation of successful actions against Wagner group operatives in Africa.

“We certainly will not disclose details at this time; to be continued,” he added.

Yusov reminded that the Wagner group has been actively operating in the African region and beyond. “They have been trying to resolve geopolitical and economic issues with their mercenaries, changing or supporting various governments. And today, the whole world sees that this is no longer the same potential and capabilities of Russia. This means that new orders and reliance on them as an accurate tool for solving regional problems will be less,” he concluded.

Several Wagner PMC fighters were allegedly captured, including Anton Elizarov, known by his call sign “Lotus,” according to pro-war author Boris Rozhin, who runs the Colonelcassad Telegram channel. Rozhin claims that Elizarov has “already been exchanged back.” The Military Informant Telegram channel reports that the captured Wagner mercenaries were “quickly ransomed” through the mediation of the African Corps of the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Some analysts claim that Elizarov “became the de facto commander of the Wagner militants” following the deaths of mercenary commander Dmitry Utkin and Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of Wagner PMC, in a plane crash in the Tver region in August 2023. Meduza’s Analysis department notes that Wagner PMC ceased to exist as a unified structure after the deaths of Prigozhin and Utkin.

It is known, that Elizarov led the offensive on Soledar and Bakhmut during the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

A BBC Russian Service source, a former Wagner Group mercenary, claims at least 82 fighters were killed in Mali. This figure is corroborated by “Rusich,” a former Wagner assault unit commander, who also reported over 80 fatalities.

According to the Wall Street Journal, these losses are among the most significant suffered by the Wagner Group since its deployment to Africa in 2017.

Furthermore, it was reported that Malian rebels inflicted damage on at least one Mi-24 helicopter. Tthe helicopter, which was carrying injured Wagner fighters, was attacked by Tuareg rebels during an emergency landing near Tinzaouaten in the Kidal region.