Mali announced on Sunday that it is cutting diplomatic ties with Ukraine following comments by a spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (GUR) regarding recent fighting in northern Mali that resulted in the deaths of Malian soldiers and Wagner fighters.
Northern Mali’s Tuareg rebels claim to have killed at least 84 Russian Wagner mercenaries and 47 Malian soldiers during fierce battles in late July, marking Wagner’s heaviest defeat since joining Mali’s fight against insurgents two years ago.
GUR spokesperson Andriy Yusov did not confirm Kyiv’s involvement in the fighting but stated that the rebels had received the “necessary” information to conduct the attack. His comments were published on Ukraine’s public broadcaster Suspilne’s website on July 29.
“The rebels received all the necessary information they needed, and not just the information, which allowed (them) to conduct a successful military operation against Russian perpetrators of war crimes,” Yusov said.
Mali expressed “deep shock” over Yusov’s remarks, accusing Ukraine of admitting involvement in a “cowardly, treacherous, and barbaric attack” that killed members of the Malian Defence and Security Forces.
Mali’s government stated that Ukraine’s actions violate Mali’s sovereignty and constitute clear aggression and support for international terrorism.
The decision to cut ties also cited comments by Ukraine’s ambassador to several West African countries. Senegal’s foreign minister summoned Ukrainian Ambassador Yurii Pyvovarov on Friday over a video in which Pyvovarov expressed support for the attack in Mali.
