Ukraine has deployed an elite contingent of drone operators to Africa, engaging Russian forces in a proxy war aimed at undermining Moscow's influence and forging new international alliances. These Ukrainian operators are working with local rebel groups in countries like Mali, Sudan, and Libya to counter Russian military presence, which has supported coup-installed dictatorships and warlords since 2020.
An anonymous Ukrainian drone operator described coordinating operations remotely, with drone feeds transmitted over the internet and instructions relayed via radio to local fighters. This strategy allows Ukraine to apply pressure on Russia beyond the front lines of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, yielding both psychological and tangible results. This tactic mirrors Ukraine's successful use of drone expertise as a foreign policy instrument, similar to its support for allies in the Middle East against Iranian-backed forces.
Since 2020, Russia has reportedly deployed approximately 5,000 troops across Africa, seeking to fill power vacuums left by Western withdrawals and secure resources, often in exchange for mining rights. In Mali, a group of fifteen Ukrainian drone operators is embedded with the Azawad Liberation Front. They are assisting the rebel group in confronting more than 2,000 Russian troops who are supporting the military junta led by Gen. Assimi Goïta. The Ukrainian operator noted that while he does not go to the front lines himself, he analyzes mission details with the returning fighters.
Ukraine has also extended its training initiatives to troops from Chad, Niger, and Burkina Faso, who have traveled to Mali to learn from the Ukrainian contingent. A Ukrainian Defense Intelligence source indicated that shared opposition to Russian forces transcends cultural and religious differences.
Meanwhile, Russia's recruitment efforts for its war in Ukraine have expanded to include foreign nationals from 136 countries, according to a recent Amnesty International report. These recruits are often drawn from low-income countries or are migrants and refugees in Russia. The report detailed instances of deceptive and coercive recruitment practices, with individuals being misled by false promises of employment, high salaries, or legal status. Separately, British military intelligence estimates that the total number of Russian soldiers killed or incapacitated in the Ukraine war has reached 1.5 million.