Russia expands Sahel military reach via air shadow fleet

Russia is expanding its military presence in Africa’s Sahel region through an ‘air shadow fleet’ consisting of state and private aircraft. An analysis by the Center for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS) identified at least 75 flights linked to Russian state-aligned military forces traveling to or from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger between January 2025 and July 2026.

These flights support Russia’s Africa Corps, the state-controlled entity that replaced the Wagner Group in various parts of the continent. The network operates similarly to Russia’s maritime shadow fleet used to bypass Western sanctions, utilizing military operators, government agencies, and private carriers to maintain supply routes. Burkina Faso recorded the highest level of activity with 56 flights, serving as a frequent logistics stop, followed by Mali with 38 flights. Niger recorded six identified flights.

Key operators include the already-sanctioned Flight Unit 224, Russia’s Special Flight Squadron, and the Ministry for Emergency Situations, as well as private carriers Sapsan Airlines and Liz Aviation. Notably, some of these private operators have not yet faced sanctions from the US, UK, or EU. The expansion also involves infrastructure upgrades at various sites in Libya to support aircraft, drones, and troops.