Mali ambush kills 60 soldiers as Russian troops abandon convoy

In mid‑July, a joint Russian‑Malian military convoy traveling through the Gao region of northern Mali was ambushed by rebel fighters. According to Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR), Russian forces assigned to protect the column fled the scene and refused to deploy helicopters or drones, leaving Malian troops without air support.

The clash resulted in at least 60 Malian soldiers killed and about 30 captured as armored vehicles burned. HUR links the incident to the Russian “Africa Corps,” a unit formed after the Wagner Group mutiny, noting Russia’s broader strategic interests in Mali’s gold and uranium resources. The details have not been independently verified.

The episode underscores tensions in Russia’s African partnerships and raises questions about the reliability of Russian military aid to the Malian junta.