Russia Floods Mali With Arms, Expands Footprint After Wagner Collaps

Russia has sent fresh military convoys packed with heavy equipment into Mali, doubling down on its presence even as the Wagner Group exits after a string of failures.

An investigation by The Sentry found that at least three large shipments of Russian-made trucks, tanks, armored vehicles and boats reached Bamako, the capital of Mali, in the first five months of 2025.

The buildup follows years of stalled progress by fighters from Russia’s Wagner mercenary group – deployed since 2021 – who failed to secure key victories against insurgents or gain access to Mali’s lucrative gold sector.

The group withdrew in June 2025, handing operations to the Kremlin-controlled Africa Corps.

The shift comes in the wake of the failed 2023 mutiny led by former Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, when thousands of Wagner fighters briefly turned their weapons on Russia’s own military leadership.

Since then, the Kremlin has moved decisively to dismantle the autonomy of private military companies and bring overseas operations firmly under the defense ministry’s control.

Defense ministry-linked forces have steadily replaced Wagner units abroad – first in Syria in 2023, then Libya in 2024, and now in Mali – allowing the Kremlin to formalize its military footprint while minimizing the risk of another internal revolt.

While Mali’s army, FAMA, says the new equipment is intended for national defense, sources indicate much of it is earmarked for Africa Corps units.

Unlike Wagner’s aggressive frontline tactics, the new force appears focused on consolidating positions and protecting assets under tighter Kremlin control.

Though it draws heavily from former Wagner fighters and leadership, Africa Corps operates with a more structured command and a broader strategic mandate, the report says.

Positioning itself as a vehicle for expanding Russian influence across the Sahel – with a growing footprint in Niger, Sudan and Libya – the force faces mounting accusations of systematic brutality.

The report points to a surge in abuses, including rape, torture, beheadings, mutilations and summary executions, particularly in northern Mali and along the border with Mauritania.

At the same time, Russia is ramping up recruitment for Africa Corps both locally and across the continent, offering high financial incentives.

Ukrainian intelligence activity in Africa, Syria

Ukrainian special forces under its Military Intelligence Directorate (HUR) has targeted pro-Kremlin Wagner mercenaries in Sudan and other parts of the African continent in the past:

Mali

In 2024, Kyiv Post received a photo of Malian Tuareg rebels posing with the Ukrainian flag.

Sudan

In November 2023, Kyiv Post got an exclusive video allegedly showing Ukrainian special forces performing “cleaning up” operations of Wagner fighters in Sudan.

In January 2024, Kyiv Post published an exclusive video allegedly showing Ukrainian drones destroying “Russian mercenaries” and their “local terrorist partners” in Sudan.

And in February 2024, Kyiv Post acquired exclusive footage allegedly showing Ukrainian special forces interrogating captured Wagner Group mercenaries in the Republic of Sudan. In the video, the prisoners confess that their mission was to get to Sudan and overthrow the local government.

Syria

In addition to Sudan, in 2024, Kyiv Post published exclusive footage of Ukrainian special forces attacking enemy checkpoints, strongholds, foot patrols, and columns of military equipment in the Golan Heights in Syria.

At the end of July 2024, Kyiv Post received several exclusive videos and photos showing the continuation of the special operation by HUR units to destroy Russian forces in Syria.

According to Kyiv Post sources in the special service, the Khimik group carried out another complex attack on Russian occupation forces in Syria in late July 2024. This time, the target was Russian military equipment at the Kuweires airfield, located east of Aleppo.

Later, exclusive footage from Kyiv Post sources appears to show HUR special forces attacking a Russian base in Syria, near Aleppo, on Sept. 15, 2024, where Moscow was producing and testing lethal, bomb-laden unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Syria’s Moscow-backed regime was ousted by a lightning offensive by rebel groups in December 2024. The new Syrian leader has hinted at plans to convert Russia’s bases in Syria into training camps in 2026.