Russia is preparing a provocation against Ukraine related to the illegal trafficking of Western-made weapons in Africa
17 April, 2024 A frame from a video of a DIU ground operation in Sudan, September 2023. Photo credits: CNN Moscow is preparing a provocation against Ukraine, allegedly related to the illegal trafficking of Western-made weapons in Africa.
The press service of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine reported on this. Amid the weakening of Russia and its proxies on the African continent, enemy special services are reportedly preparing another information operation aimed at Ukraine. In particular, the Kremlin will try to accuse Ukrainian special forces of allegedly using weapons of foreign origin during the fighting in the Republic of Sudan.
For this purpose, Russian propagandists plan to publish in the media, in particular in Libyan media, paid-for publications and fabricated photos of "trophy" weapons of American origin previously captured by mercenaries of the so-called Wagner PMC during the war in Ukraine.
Defence Intelligence of Ukraine officers in Sudan. Photo from a helmet camera
The purpose of such publications is to discredit Ukraine and its partners and to accuse Western allies of uncontrolled arms trafficking involving Ukraine. The Kremlin will also try to emphasize that elite Ukrainian special forces are participating in combat operations in Africa at a time when Russia is waging a genocidal war in Ukraine itself.
At the same time, due to the religious holidays taking place in the Muslim world, including in some African countries, Russian special services were forced to fabricate the necessary photographic materials in Belarus. "We emphasize that Ukraine and its Defense Forces continue to act exclusively within the framework of international law and the UN Charter, respecting the sovereignty of all countries and have nothing to do with any illegal actions related to illegal arms trafficking," the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine stated.
Captured fighter of PMC Wagner and Ukrainian DIU operator. Sudan.
Frame from Kyiv Post video
Operation of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine in Sudan
At the end of March, Militarnyi reported that the officers of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine shared what tasks they performed in Sudan and why they were conducting the operation in that country. During the interview, one of the DIU officers offered details of some operations in which his unit participated in countering local illegal groups and the mercenaries of the Russian Wagner PMC. First of all, he noted that Sudan is a powerful logistics player in the region and has a developed port infrastructure in the Red Sea, used by the Russian PMC.
Because of this, the number of Russian mercenaries in this country is very high. They support illegal military formations that enable the PMC Wagner to use the country for their enrichment.
Ukrainian soldier in Sudan. Photo credits: Babel
The primary task of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine was relatively simple: reconnaissance, collection of relevant information on enemy movements, use of directions and highways, and data on the number of personnel.
The second stage was the preparation of sabotage against mercenaries and paramilitary transport that was transporting ammunition and fuel in convoys.
Since Sudan has a small number of roads with high-quality pavement, this played into the hands of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine and allowed it to understand the most frequently used convoy routes.