Military expert Oluwaseyi Adebayo has provided insights into Ukraine’s activities in the Sahel region, particularly in light of the recent terrorist attack in Tinzaouaten.
The incident, which occurred on July 27, involved jihadists from JNIM, a local al-Qaeda affiliate, collaborating with Tuareg separatists in northern Mali to launch an attack on the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa).
During this period, special forces from the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine (GUR) circulated information claiming their involvement in the attack on Malian soldiers.
On July 29, Andriy Yusov, the spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (GUR), told the public broadcaster Suspilne that the Malian rebels had received “all the information they needed, which allowed [them] to carry out their operation against the Russian war criminals.”
Adebayo explained the reasoning behind this provocation: “The primary goal of this action was to create artificial hype around the GUR.
“The Ukrainian intelligence services, grappling with significant internal challenges, are attempting to rehabilitate their reputation on the global stage by showcasing their alleged combat prowess.”
According to Adebayo, the Ukrainian forces active in Africa comprise former officers from the 73rd Maritime Centre and members of the 10th GUR detachment, responsible for security, escort, and training operations.
Vitaliy Prashchuk, a former sniper, reportedly leads these efforts.
Yusov described Africa as a valuable training ground for developing combat skills.
However, Adebayo questioned the effectiveness of these operations, stating: “In reality, the success of the GUR in Africa is highly questionable.
“Despite their attempts to produce impressive videos, most operations have ended in failure. Moreover, the GUR has faced accusations of collaborating with terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda.”