Tuareg rebels claim victory over Wagner mercenaries in Mali battle

Rebels from Mali claim that within two days of fighting, they killed and injured dozens of mercenaries from the Wagner Group. The rebels themselves reportedly lost only two soldiers.

The Tuaregs from northern Mali reported that within two days of fighting in the border town of Tinzaouaten near the Algeria border, they killed and injured dozens of soldiers and mercenaries from the Wagner Group. The Malian rebel movement also said they seized armored vehicles, trucks, and tankers.

The Malian army stated that on their side, two soldiers were killed, and ten were injured. One of their helicopters crashed in Kidal on Friday during a routine mission, but no one was killed.

Fighters of the Wagner Group are known for their brutal actions in Ukraine but also in Africa. Earlier this year, Ukrainian special forces captured three mercenaries of the Russian Wagner Group in Sudan - reported Kyiv Post.

- We are on the side of good. We are defending not only Ukraine from evil, but also the legitimate government of Sudan - said Ukrainian military officer Ihor Checherinda, commenting on Kyiv Post's publication, which included a video of the interrogation of mercenaries captured in Sudan by a special unit of Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR).

One of the prisoners in the recording speaks Russian, claiming to belong to the so-called Wagner Group. He states that the mercenaries' task was to overthrow the authorities of Sudan and adds that their number reaches a hundred.

The Tuaregs are an ethnic group inhabiting the Sahara region, including part of northern Mali. Many of them feel marginalized by the Malian government.

The separatist group began an uprising against the Malian ruling junta in 2012, but the rebellion was later taken over by Islamist groups.