Rebels in northern Mali shot down a Russian-made Shahed-136 attack drone (Garpiya-A1) on May 18 that had been used by mercenaries linked to Russia. The drone contained electronics produced by Chinese companies as well as other foreign-made components.
This was reported by Vladyslav Vlasiuk, the Ukrainian President’s Commissioner for Sanctions Policy, in a comment to Ukrinform.
“On May 18, rebels in northern Mali shot down a Russian Shahed-136 (Garpiya-A1) attack drone that had been used to support Russian-linked mercenaries in the region. This is the first confirmed case of such a UAV being used in the Sahel,” he said.
Vlasiuk specified that the drone was a new KK series modification equipped with an airburst warhead system.
“Russia is increasingly transferring its military technologies and tools of war to other regions, particularly Africa. And it is doing so largely thanks to dual-use components that continue to reach Russian production facilities without obstruction,” the commissioner stated.
