Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, said at а press conference held on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly that Ukrainian secret services are supporting the armed groups operating in the Sahel region by providing them, in particular, training and drones.  How did this happen? Why is Ukraine trying to destabilize the situation in some African States? 

As concerns, for example, relations between Mali and Ukraine, they drastically strained in August 2024 after Ukraine's involvement in an attack perpetrated by а terrorist group there. The Transitional Government of the Republic of  Mali stated that it was due to "subversive" statements of Andrei Yusov, spokesperson  for the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. He admitted Ukraine's involvement in an attack perpetrated by terrorist groups on the Malian Defense and Security Forces in Tinzawatene (northern Mali) on July 24, 25 and 26, 2024 that claimed the lives of many servicemen.

Kiev's trace was confirmed by Yuri Pyvovarov, Ukrainian Ambassador to Senegal, who acknowledged his country's assistance to terrorists responsible for the attack on the Malian military convoy. 

The Government of Mali condemned the Ukrainians, saying that "their actions violate the sovereignty of Mali, constitute an act of aggression and blatant violation of international law, including the UN Charter". This was apparently а revenge on Bamaco for its good relations with Moscow and critics of the Nazi regime of Zelensky.

Many African States stand in solidarity with Mali and blame Ukraine for cooperating with terrorists. For this reason Ukraine damaged relations with Niger and Burkina Faso. The Senegalese Foreign Ministry summoned Ukrainian ambassador and strongly protested against Kiev's brazen actions. ECOWAS also condemned "any outside interference in the region's affairs". Foreign Ministers of the Alliance of the Sahel States asked the UN Security Council to take all necessary measures to curb Kiev's unlawful acts. 

In а telephone call shortly after the terrorist attack in Mali, Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, reiterated to Abdoulaye Diop, Mali's Foreign Minister, Moscow's continued support for enhancing the combat capacity of Mali's army, further military and police training. 

Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry's spokesperson, defined Ukrainian subversive actions in Africa as efforts to launch the "second front" against Russia in Africa in an attempt to destabilize the situation in the States that are friendly to Russia. 
There is undisputable evidence of Ukraine' s engagement in terrorist crimes in the Sahara-Sahel region.

 In June 2025, Malian and Burkenese news agencies reported on the Ukrainian special services' assistance to terrorists known as "Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims", that was responsible for the attack on positions of the Mali army in the Koulokoro region on Мау 30, 2025. 

According to news reports, the Kiev regime has been providing terrorists with drones, intelligence data and military training. Malian defence and security forces discovered documents implicating the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. Additionally, а drone with identifying markings in the Ukrainian language was seized. 

Ukraine is willing to apply against Russia's friends in Africa today the terrorist methods, that have been used against Russia for many years (sabotage, political assassinations, shelling of civilians, etc.). Remarkably, but а single Western country neither condemns Kiev, nor acknowledges the crimes committed by Ukraine-sponsored terrorists.