Ukraine deploys drone specialists to Africa and Middle East

Ukrainian military specialists are expanding their operations beyond European borders to weaken Russian influence globally. In the Sahel region of Africa, approximately 15 Ukrainian drone operators have been deployed to northern Mali to assist local rebel forces fighting against Russian troops. These specialists operate in extreme desert conditions to provide expertise in drone warfare.

Beyond Mali, Ukrainian intelligence sources indicate that specialists have been stationed in Sudan, and troops from Chad, Niger, and Burkina Faso have received drone training in Mali from Ukrainian instructors. The deployment also extends to Libya and the Middle East. In at least five Middle Eastern countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Ukrainian teams have taught local forces how to counter Iranian-made Shahed drones, which are frequently used by Russia in Ukraine.

In exchange for sharing this hard-won military know-how, Kyiv has secured various security cooperation agreements and promises of ammunition from these international partners.