Ukraine deploys drone specialists to Mali, Libya, Sudan in shadow war with Russia
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Ukraine has deployed about 15 drone specialists to northern Mali to support the Azawad Liberation Front against Malian and Russian forces, according to a CNN investigation. The specialists train rebels and provide operational assistance, extending Ukraine's drone warfare expertise to Africa. The move marks a new front in Ukraine's effort to pressure Russia beyond its own borders.
Key Facts
- About 15 Ukrainian specialists are deployed in northern Mali supporting the Azawad Liberation Front, a Tuareg rebel group fighting Malian and Russian forces.
- The specialists train rebels, provide operational assistance, and can receive drone signals via the internet to guide flights by radio.
- Ukrainian specialists are also present in Sudan, and military personnel from Chad, Niger, and Burkina Faso have traveled to Mali for drone training.
- After Iran attacked US allies in the Middle East this year, Ukraine sent teams to at least five countries to teach countermeasures against Iranian Shahed drones.
- Russia expanded its influence in the Sahel through the Wagner Group and later the Africa Corps, which supports the military junta in Mali.
Ukrainian Presence in Mali
About 15 Ukrainian specialists are deployed in northern Mali supporting the Azawad Liberation Front, according to a CNN investigation. The Azawad Liberation Front is composed mainly of Tuareg rebels fighting Malian and Russian forces. The Ukrainians state they do not fight on the front line but train rebels and provide operational assistance. They can receive drone signals via the internet and guide rebel operators by radio on where to fly and what to do.
Russian Influence in the Sahel
Russia expanded its influence in the Sahel after France and other Western countries withdrew, offering security and support to military governments in exchange for money, influence, and access to resources. Much of this work was handled by the Wagner Group until the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin in 2023, after which Moscow reorganized the apparatus around the Africa Corps, directly linked to the Russian state. In Mali, Russian forces have become an important support for the military junta, making the Russian presence a target for Ukrainian pressure.
Export of Drone Warfare Expertise
Ukraine has accumulated real experience in a war dominated by unmanned vehicles, and a Ukrainian military intelligence source said Kiev is turning that knowledge into a foreign policy tool. Ukrainian specialists are also present in Sudan, while military personnel from Chad, Niger, and Burkina Faso have previously traveled to Mali for drone training. When Iran attacked US allies in the Middle East this year, Ukraine sent teams to at least five countries to teach their forces to combat Iranian Shahed drones. In exchange, Kiev has obtained security cooperation agreements and promises of ammunition.
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