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Leaked Records Reveal Russian Casualties in Moscow’s African Military Campaigns
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
At least 300 Russian nationals have died in Mali, with many believed to have served in the Wagner mercenary group or Russia’s Defense Ministry-controlled Africa Corps, according to an analysis of leaked Russian government records.
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The findings were published by Janis Kluge, an analyst at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, on November 14. His assessment draws on data from Russia’s Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat), obtained following a cyberattack on Russian government information systems.
The Russian database contains over 300 deaths of Russian men in Mali - presumably Wagner PMC. During two major attacks by Mali rebels in July 2024 and April 2026, several dozens of Wagner fighters died. pic.twitter.com/9JjeASIrM4
— Janis Kluge (@jakluge) November 13, 2026
The records indicate that Russian deaths in Mali increased sharply during two periods that coincided with major attacks by armed groups against Russian-backed forces in July 2024 and April 2026.
The compromised databases reportedly contain statistical, economic, and personal information, along with census records, covering data available through August 28, 2026.
Kluge identified two particularly significant spikes in Russian deaths. Both correspond to periods of intense fighting involving Malian government forces and Russian military personnel, suggesting that a substantial proportion of those recorded may have been mercenaries.
However, the available data does not establish the military affiliation of every deceased Russian national. One of the deadliest incidents occurred in July 2024 near Tinzaouaten, close to Mali’s border with Algeria, when Tuareg-led rebels attacked a convoy of Malian troops and Wagner fighters.
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The rebels claimed to have killed at least 20 foreign mercenaries and shot down a helicopter, while Malian authorities acknowledged only two military deaths.
Another spike in Russian deaths coincided with coordinated insurgent attacks in April 2026. Armed groups claimed to have killed more than 200 foreign fighters, while Mali’s military reported repelling the attacks with only 16 personnel wounded. Neither side’s casualty figures have been independently verified.
Russia expanded its military presence in Mali following the May 2021 coup, deploying Wagner mercenaries to support government forces as the country shifted away from France and other Western partners.
After Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin’s failed rebellion and subsequent death in 2023, Moscow began bringing its African operations under direct state control.
The Russian Defense Ministry established Africa Corps in November 2023 to replace Wagner’s structures and strengthen Moscow’s military presence across Africa, under the oversight of Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov.
Earlier, CNN reported on September 12 that around 15 Ukrainian drone specialists were operating in Mali, providing training, technical support, and operational guidance to Tuareg-led rebels fighting Russian-backed forces.
According to CNN, Ukrainian personnel have helped local fighters conduct drone operations against Russia’s Africa Corps, part of Kyiv’s broader effort to challenge Moscow’s military influence beyond Europe.
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