The diplomat stressed Saturday at the first ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum that the Slavic nation considers the practice of cooperating with international terrorist groups unacceptable’ and will continue to fight ‘this evil by all available means’.

Late in July, the Russian-origin paramilitary organization Wagner confirmed that its fighters suffered casualties in clashes with irregular armed groups in northeastern Mali between July 22 and 27.

The Malian army also reported losses during the clashes.

On July 30, Senenews media reported that Malian and Mauritanian authorities were investigating the involvement of Ukrainian military instructors on the side of the rebels in Mali in the year-long conflict.

On Saturday, August 3, Senegal’s Foreign Ministry summoned Ukraine’s ambassador to the country, Yuri Pivovárov, for his expressed support for fighters in northern Mali who inflicted heavy losses on government forces.

On the same day, nine Senegalese public organizations said in a statement that a video released by Ukraine’s military intelligence spokesman, Andrei Yusov, confirming Kiev’s involvement in the attack on Wagner in Mali, was further evidence of Kiev’s support for irregular armed groups.

They also condemned Ukraine for training fighters in Africa and urged the international community to hold Kiev accountable for its actions.

On 20 August the permanent missions of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso called on the UN Security Council to take action against Ukraine for its support of terrorism in the Sahel region.

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