According to a statement issued by the United States Department of State on Monday, Russia’s Wagner Group is attempting to conceal its efforts to acquire military equipment for use in Ukraine, and Washington has been informed that the mercenary force intends to transport these acquisitions through Mali to aid Russia in its war with Ukraine.
At a routine briefing, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters that Wagner is willing to use forged documents in such transactions.
Miller claims Wagner has attempted to purchase military systems from foreign vendors and then transport them to his forces in Mali.
We are keeping a close eye on the situation because we have not yet seen concrete evidence that these acquisitions have been completed.
Miller asserted that the US has sanctioned a number of individuals and organizations that assist Wagner’s military operations, and that more information would be forthcoming.
Wagner mercenaries have fought alongside regular Russian troops in Ukraine, even in the fiercest battles, such as the ongoing battle for Bakhmut.
Western nations have expressed concern about Wagner’s activities in Mali since late 2021. Both the leaders of the West African country, who seized power in a coup in 2021, and the Russian government have insisted that Russian forces on the ground in that country are not mercenaries, but rather trainers assisting local troops in the use of Russian-supplied equipment.
