MALI: The ruling junta has severed relations with Ukraine.

Forty-seven Malian soldiers and 84 mercenaries, thought to be from Russia’s Wagner group, were killed in the north by Tuareg rebels in a three-day battle late last month.

Ukrainian intelligence spokesman Andriy Yusov told a public broadcaster Kiev had given the rebels assistance enabling them to kill the “Russian war criminals,” prompting Mali to cut off ties.