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Ukraine is fighting Russia anywhere it can – even in the deserts of Africa
Small teams have trained rebels and local forces in Mali and Libya, extending Kyiv’s drone warfare against Russian troops into Africa.
- On Saturday, September 12, 2026, reports confirmed that 15 Ukrainian drone specialists are operating in Mali to support local forces fighting Russia's Africa Corps in the Sahel region.
- Kyiv views these deployments as a "foreign policy tool" to undermine Russia's image as a reliable security partner, aiming to pressure Moscow and weaken its position across Africa.
- Operating remotely rather than on front lines, specialists coordinate drone missions via internet signals and radio while helping local fighters adapt equipment to endure temperatures exceeding 43 degrees Celsius.
- Ukrainian teams have also expanded operations to northwestern Libya, monitoring Russia's "shadow fleet," and trained forces in at least five countries in the Middle East to counter Iranian-made Shahed drones.
- Russia continues efforts to assert itself as a power player in the mineral-rich Sahel, with state-owned exporter Rosoboronexport recently presenting new weapons at the El Alamein International Airshow, claiming they are "proven" for combat.
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16 Articles
16 Articles
Ukraine has deployed small groups of military drone specialists outside the country who work in Africa and the Middle East
Ukraine has deployed small groups of military drone specialists outside the country who work in Africa and the Middle East. There are about 15 Ukrainian specialists in Mali who are helping local rebel groups opposing government...
The conditions are extreme. Temperatures regularly exceed 43 degrees Celsius during the day and fall sharply at night. Water is scarce and dust and sand invade everything. But at least they work on the surface.
Elite group of Ukrainian drone operators deployed to Mali
·Portugal
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An elite group of Ukrainian drone operators has been hunting Russians in dugouts in Ukraine for years, and now they're doing it in the desert of northern Mali.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources16
Leaning Left2Leaning Right1Center9Last UpdatedBias Distribution75% Center
Bias Distribution
- 75% of the sources are Center
75% Center
L 17%
C 75%
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