Russian mercenaries suffer heavy casualties in Mali rebel ambush
Russians fighting on the side of the Malian government forces fell into a rebel ambush. The attackers reportedly killed many soldiers, including those associated with the Wagner Group – Nikita Fedyanin, but possibly also Anton Elizarov. Some Kremlin soldiers were taken captive.
According to media reports, the fighting occurred in the northern part of Mali, near the border with Algeria. Tuareg rebels reportedly attacked a convoy carrying Russian mercenaries and Malian government soldiers.
According to Reuters, the rebels managed to capture armoured vehicles, tankers, and trucks and shoot down a Mi-24P helicopter used to evacuate wounded soldiers. Even the Russian propaganda agency TASS reported the attack, quoting Malian authorities stating that two soldiers were killed and ten injured. The losses among the rebels are said to be much higher.
Russian channels on Telegram report significantly higher losses, especially among Wagner members. The death toll allegedly reaches dozens. One of the commanders even claimed that the Wagner Group might have lost up to 100 people.
Fighting in Mali. Two important Wagner members killed
According to the "Pravda" portal, Nikita Fedyanin, administrator of the Telegram channel "Grey Zone" associated with Wagner's mercenaries, was killed during the fighting. He was 29 years old and came from Lipetsk. Russian media reports suggest he may have been linked to the FSB.
Among the dead is also the former commander of the group, Anton Elizarov "Lotus". He previously fought in Ukraine and, according to the "Moscow Times," commanded the attack on Soledar and Bakhmut. One of the Telegram channels reported that he was only captured but was exchanged for another hostage.
The Tuaregs are an ethnic group inhabiting the Sahara region, including parts of northern Mali. Many of them feel marginalised by the Malian government.
The separatist group started an uprising against the junta in Mali in 2012, but Islamist groups later took over the rebellion. Russian mercenaries have been present in Mali since 2021. These are the most significant losses of Wagner soldiers in Africa since they began operations on the continent.
