The Malian government has announced the severance of diplomatic ties with Ukraine, citing a senior Ukrainian official’s alleged admission of Kyiv’s role in a recent attack that killed dozens of Russian mercenaries and Malian soldiers.
The decision comes after intense fighting in northern Mali last month, which resulted in significant casualties on both sides.
The northern Tuareg rebels claimed responsibility for the attack, saying they killed at least 84 mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner group and 47 Malian soldiers over three days of fighting.
Mali’s government spokesman, Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga, stated that Ukraine’s military intelligence agency spokesperson, Andriy Yusov, had “admitted Ukraine’s involvement” in the attack, which Mali considers a “cowardly, treacherous, and barbaric” act.
Furthermore, Mali cited comments by Ukraine’s Ambassador to Senegal, Yurii Pyvovarov, who expressed “unequivocal and unqualified support” for the attack on social media.
The Malian government views these actions as unacceptable foreign interference and support for international terrorism.
In response, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow’s support for Bamako in a phone call with his Malian counterpart, Abdoulaye Diop.
