Mali Breaks Off Diplomatic Relations with Ukraine, Accusing it of Helping to Kill Russian Wagner Mercenaries, Kyiv Responds

The transitional government of Mali has decided to sever diplomatic relations with Ukraine, accusing the country's military intelligence of involvement in the downing of Russian Wagner mercenaries. Ukraine responded that it first wanted to see evidence of its involvement.

CNN reports this with reference to a televised address by Malian government spokesman Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga, as well as the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

"Mali has severed diplomatic relations with Ukraine after Kyiv provided Malian rebels with intelligence used to ambush members of the Wagner group in July," the article says.

It is noted that the decision to sever diplomatic relations takes effect immediately. "The transitional government of the Republic of Mali condemns the hostility of the Ukrainian authorities, which does not take into account the fact that Mali has always called for a peaceful resolution of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine," Maiga said.

CNN recalls that a representative of the Defence Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate, Andrey Yusov, had previously confirmed that the Malian rebels had been provided with "the necessary information that allowed for a successful military operation against Russian war criminals".

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said that Mali's decision was "short-sighted and hasty".

"Ukraine unconditionally adheres to international law, the inviolability of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries and strongly rejects the accusations of the Transitional Government of Mali of allegedly 'supporting international terrorism by Ukraine'," the diplomatic ministry said in an official statement.

"It is regrettable that the Transitional Government of the Republic of Mali has decided to sever diplomatic relations with Ukraine without conducting a thorough study of the facts and circumstances of the incident in northern Mali, as well as without providing any evidence of Ukraine's involvement in the event... Ukraine reserves the right to take all necessary political and diplomatic measures in response to the unfriendly actions of the Transitional Government of the Republic of Mali," the Foreign Ministry added.

The ministry also reminded the Malian authorities that "Kremlin-controlled military structures, including Wagner, use terrorist methods and are directly involved in numerous war crimes, killings of civilians and ill-treatment of prisoners of war both in Ukraine and in Africa".

As you know, a coalition of anti-government groups in northern Mali killed 84 mercenaries from the Russian PMC Wagner and 47 Malian soldiers during three days of fierce fighting in late July. This is the largest loss of the Wagner PMC in all the years of its presence in Africa.