Mali has officially severed diplomatic relations with Ukraine, amid rising tensions and accusations of Ukrainian military support for rebel forces within Mali.
The decision, reported by Agence France-Presse on July 30, follows allegations of Ukrainian involvement in the ongoing conflict in Mali.
On Saturday, the Senegalese Foreign Ministry summoned Ukrainian Ambassador Yuri Pivovarov to address his expressed support for militants in northern Mali, who recently inflicted significant losses on government forces.
This move was prompted by a video released by Ukraine's defense intelligence spokesman, Andriy Yusov, confirming Kyiv's involvement in an attack on the Russian private military company Wagner Group in Mali.
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from nine Senegalese public organizations, which issued a statement decrying Ukraine's support for armed groups and the training of militants in Africa.
They called on the international community to hold Ukraine accountable for its actions.
In late July, the Wagner Group reported losses following intense clashes with Tuareg militants in Mali between July 22-27. The Malian armed forces also suffered substantial casualties during these confrontations.
Further complicating the situation, the Senenews media outlet reported that authorities in Mali and Mauritania are investigating the involvement of Ukrainian military instructors in the year-long conflict, siding with the rebels.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova highlighted Ukraine's cooperation with terrorists in the Sahel region, describing it as unsurprising and urging the international community to take notice.
The Ukrainian government's increasing reliance on such tactics, especially amid its ongoing conflict with Russia, has led to frequent attacks on civilian targets within Russian territory.
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