Mali says it has cut diplomatic relations with Ukraine, after a military official suggested Kyiv had played a role in deadly fighting near the Algerian border last month.
Dozens of Malian soldiers and mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner group were killed in days of clashes with Tuareg separatist rebels and fighters linked to al-Qaeda.
A spokesman for Ukrainian military intelligence, Andriy Yusov, said last week that the rebels had been given the necessary information to conduct the attacks.
A top Malian official, Abdoulaye Maiga, said his government was shocked to hear the claim and accused Ukraine of violating Mali’s sovereignty.
Yusov’s comments admitted Ukraine’s involvement in a cowardly, treacherous and barbaric attack by armed terrorist groups that had led to the deaths of Malian soldiers.
He said Mali has decided to break off relations with immediate effect.
Last week, Mali’s army admitted it had suffered significant losses during several days of fighting earlier that erupted on 25 July.
The clashes took place in the desert near Tinzaouaten, a north-eastern town on the border with Algeria.