British Intelligence reveals Kremlin’s crackdown on Wagner activities in Mali

A recent report from the British Ministry of Defence shared on social network X, states that the Kremlin is intensifying efforts to neutralise the threat posed by the private military company Wagner following the 2023 rebellion.

The report highlights Moscow’s tightening grip on its security operations abroad, with particular focus on limiting Wagner’s influence in Mali.

Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 31 July 2025.

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“In June 2025, the Russian Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Africa Corps fully replaced the Wagner Group’s deployment to Mali. Africa Corps likely has around 2,000 personnel currently deployed to Mali, compared to Wagner’s prior deployment of around 2,500 personnel.

Africa Corps has deployed with over 100 pieces of major combat equipment to Mali, including main battle tanks, multiple launch rocket systems and tactical bomber aircraft, greatly increasing the firepower available to Russian forces in the country.

The Wagner organisation had previously operated along a significant portion of Russia’s frontline against Ukraine using almost 50,000 prisoners from Russia’s jails. Over the course of 2023, Wagner rapidly transformed from the Russian MOD’s trusted auxiliary to one of the primary threats to the security of the regime, with the group driving on Moscow during their June 2023 mutiny attempt," the report notes.

By Vafa Guliyeva