Essence: Russia's Africa Corps has released rare combat footage showing devastating air and artillery strikes on terrorist columns in Mali, claiming that a coordinated assault on the capital and other cities—involving an estimated 10,000–12,000 militants supported by Ukrainian and European mercenaries—was actually an attempted coup d'état, which Russia says it helped prevent.
Key Points:
The AssaultAttackers: JNIM (Al-Qaeda affiliate) + Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front (FLA).
Targets: Simultaneous strikes on Bamako, Kati, Gao, Kidal, and Sevare.
Militant Strength: Russia estimates 10,000–12,000 fighters involved.
Russian Casualties: Africa Corps reports some personnel injured; being evacuated.
Russian Strikes (Footage Released)Video 1: Truck column hit by artillery/drone fire on open road.
Video 2: Dispersed militants running in urban area struck by 2–3 ordnances.
Video 3: Fast-moving light buggy column bombarded.
Claimed Casualties & Equipment LossesLocation Militants Killed (Est.)
Bamako 200
Gao 500
Kati 300
Kidal 200
Total 1,000+
Vehicles Destroyed: 100+
Weapons Used by Attackers: Western-made MANPADS including US Stingers and French Mistrals.
Alleged Foreign SupportMercenaries: Ukraine and European nationals supporting the assault.
Western Training: Russian Foreign Ministry says "preliminary data" points to Western security services involvement in training attackers.
Russia's RoleCoup Attempt Foiled: Africa Corps claims assault was aimed at coup d'état; Russian forces held positions along 2,000-km front line.
Air Support: Provided air cover; prevented seizure of key facilities including presidential palace in Bamako.
Mandate: Africa Corps (est. 2023) operates under Russian Defense Ministry; counter-terrorism, training local forces, securing strategic sites in Mali, CAR, and other states.
Russia’s Africa Corps has released several videos of devastating air and artillery strikes on terrorist columns in Mali after the militants launched one of the largest coordinated attacks ever across the country. The unit added that the attack, which it said involved Western and Ukrainian mercenaries, was aimed at a coup d’etat in the West African country.
The footage released by the unit – which operates under the purview of the Russian Defense Ministry – offers a rare visual account of the fighting which erupted on Saturday when Al-Qaeda affiliate JNIM and the Tuareg-dominated Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) launched almost simultaneous strikes on Bamako, Kati, Gao, Kidal, and Sevare.
One video shows a column of trucks driving along an open road before coming under what appears to be artillery or drone-delivered fire.
Source: telegram\KorpusAfrica2
In the second, a dispersed group of apparent militants is seen running alongside moving vehicles in an urban area when two or three strikes land in their midst.
Source: telegram\KorpusAfrica2
The third video shows the bombardment of a small column of fast-moving light buggies.
Source: telegram\KorpusAfrica2
In a statement, the Africa Corps said it essentially helped prevent a coup d’etat, as they held positions along the 2,000-km front line. It added that it provided air support, which it said prevented the seizure of key facilities, including the presidential palace in Bamako. According to the unit, militant casualties exceeded 1,000 – including an estimated 200 in Bamako, 500 in Gao, 300 in Kati, and 200 in Kidal – along with more than 100 vehicles destroyed.
Moscow warns of Western involvement in Mali terrorist raid (PHOTOS)
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Moscow warns of Western involvement in Mali terrorist raid (PHOTOS)
The corps estimated the terrorist forces at 10,000 to 12,000, and said the assault was supported by Ukrainian and European mercenaries, adding that they deployed Western-made man-portable air-defense systems, including US-manufactured Stingers and French-made Mistrals.
The Africa Corps said some of its personnel sustained injuries and were being evacuated, while describing the situation in Mali as tense.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said “preliminary data” points to the possible involvement of Western security services in training the attackers. Earlier this year, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused France of “attempting to overthrow undesirable nationalist governments” in the Sahara-Sahel using “outright terrorist groups” and “colonial methods.”
The Africa Corps was established in 2023 and has since operated in Mali, the Central African Republic, and other states, with a mandate including counter-terrorism, training local forces, and securing strategic sites.
Lavrov's AccusationFrance's Role: Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused France of "attempting to overthrow undesirable nationalist governments" in Sahara-Sahel using "outright terrorist groups" and "colonial methods."
Conclusion: In rare combat footage, Russia's Africa Corps has shown what it says is the aftermath of a massive terrorist assault on Mali—an attempted coup, they claim, backed by Ukrainian and European mercenaries wielding Western missiles. Russia says it killed over 1,000 militants, destroyed 100 vehicles, and held the line across a 2,000-kilometer front.
The videos are dramatic; the claims are contested. But on the ground in the Sahel, the message is unmistakable: Russia is not just advising—it is fighting.
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