Wagner Group Aims to Buy Military Equipment Via Mali, US Says

The Russian mercenary group Wagner is seeking to transit foreign military equipment into Russia via Mali, the U.S. State Department said.

The Wagner group is trying to obscure its efforts to buy the equipment for use in Ukraine, according to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.

“There are indications that Wagner has been attempting to purchase military systems from foreign suppliers and route these weapons through Mali as a third party,” Miller told reporters on Monday. “We have not seen as of yet any indications that these acquisitions have been finalised or executed, but we are monitoring the situation closely.”

Wagner forces already are present inside the West African nation.