Russia is expanding its military presence in Africa: 8,000 additional troops and the risk of increased terrorism
Russia has significantly increased its military presence in African countries, posing new threats to global security.
This was reported by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following a briefing by Oleg Lugovsky, head of the Foreign Intelligence Service.
According to him, the number of Russian forces on the continent has increased by another 8,000 personnel. In addition, Russia is actively expanding the use of drones—both through imports and through local production and personnel training.
Intelligence officials believe that such militarization could contribute to the strengthening of terrorist organizations, an increase in cross-border crime, and the destabilization of regions that are important in terms of migration flows.
Zelenskyy emphasized the need for international coordination to counter these risks and noted that Ukraine will work with partners in this regard.
Units of the so-called African Corps of the Russian Ministry of Defense have left the strategically important city of Kidal in Mali. The withdrawal took place amid an unprecedented attack by Tuareg rebels and Islamists on several regions of the country simultaneously.
Representatives of the Tuareg rebels claim that government forces and their allies left Kidal in accordance with a prior agreement. At the same time, there is no consensus among Russian Z-channels and military bloggers regarding the reasons for the withdrawal.
