News Feed, Burkina Faso, Africa, Russia, Russian armed forces

Russian troops reportedly leave Burkina Faso due to Kursk incursion

by Elsa Court and The Kyiv Independent news desk August 29, 2024 4:53 PM 2 min read

A banner of Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen during a protest to support Burkina Faso President Ibrahim Traore and to demand the departure of France's ambassador and military forces, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on Jan. 20, 2023. (OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT/AFP via Getty Images)

This audio is created with AI assistance

A Russian private military company with links to Russia's Defense Ministry is withdrawing from Burkina Faso due to Ukraine's incursion into Kursk Oblast, French newspaper Le Monde reported on Aug. 29.

According to Le Monde, the 100-strong unit known as the Bears Brigade arrived in the West African nation of Burkina Faso in May to support the junta of Captain Ibrahim Traore, who came to power in a coup in September 2022.

Traore visited Russia in July 2023 for a Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and attended Russian Navy Day celebrations.

Around 300 Russian troops are estimated to be deployed in Burkina Faso, Le Monde said.

Le Monde contacted the commander of the Bears Brigade, Viktor Yermolaev, via Telegram, on Aug. 22, after Ukraine launched its incursion into Kursk Oblast on Aug. 10.

"When the enemy arrives on our Russian territory, all Russian soldiers forget about internal problems and unite against a common enemy," Yermolaev told Le Monde.

The Bears Brigade's Telegram channel posted on Aug. 27 that the unit is returning to its base in Russian-occupied Crimea "in connection with recent events."

Yermolaev also told Le Monde that the unit has "no connection with the Russian Defense Ministry."

The Bears Brigade was formed in March 2023 and is part of a Russian military grouping called Redut, which claims to be a private military company.

A Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty investigation in 2023 revealed that Redut is controlled by the GRU, Russia's military intelligence agency.

Burkina Faso is reportedly a focus of Russian efforts to expand its influence in Africa.

Two of Burkina Faso's neighbors, Mali and Niger, recently broke diplomatic ties with Ukraine after alleging that Kyiv supported local Tuareg-led rebels.

The rebels reportedly inflicted significant losses against Malian soldiers and Russian Wagner Group mercenaries in late July.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry on Aug. 5 called the decision "hasty" and said that Mali had not provided evidence proving Ukraine's involvement.

Authors: Elsa Court, The Kyiv Independent news desk

Comments

News Feed

2:19 AM

Ukrainian boxer Usyk defeats Fury to retain heavyweight championship belt.

Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk defeated U.K.-born Tyson Fury by unanimous decision in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Dec. 22 to retain his unified heavyweight championship title.

12:49 AM

Russian attack on cancer treatment center in Kherson 'heinous act of cruelty against civilians,' Zelensky says.

The oncology center, which has operated in a limited capacity since the start of the full-scale invasion, housed the only linear accelerator offering radiotherapy treatment in the city.

12:00 AM

Ukrainian woman in serious condition following Germany's Christmas market attack.

A Ukrainian woman is in serious condition after a car plowed into a crowd at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, on the evening of Dec. 20. The incident has claimed five lives and left over 200 people injured, many of them critically.

11:17 PM

Zelensky meets with CIA director in Kyiv.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Dec. 21 that he met with CIA Director William Burns in Ukraine, marking a rare public acknowledgment of their discussions during Russia’s full-scale invasion.

8:25 PM

Russian embassy condemns UK plan to use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine aid.

The Russian embassy in London criticized the U.K.'s plan to transfer more than two billion pounds ($2.5 billion) to Ukraine using frozen Russian assets, calling it a "fraudulent scheme."

5:34 PM

Ukraine's General Staff denies Guardian report about air defense personnel being transferred to infantry units.

A source told the Guardian the situation was reaching a critical level, expressing doubts about the air defense's ability to function effectively.

5:14 PM

Slovak PM Robert Fico to visit Putin in Russia next week, Serbian president says.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he had "learned unofficially" of the upcoming visit.

2:34 PM

Orban says Hungary proposing ‘trick’ to keep Russian gas shipments via Ukraine.

Ukraine has said it will not extend the transit agreement for Russian gas through its territory, set to expire on Dec. 31.

12:08 PM

'If Putin attacks, we need to be able to wage war,' German Defense Minister says.

Boris Pistorius has come out in favor of a reform of the debt brake in order to increase funding for military defense.

11:30 AM

Two Russian airports suspend flights after Ukrainian drones target Kazan, media, officials report.

Russian state media Kommersant reported that the airports of both Kazan and the neighboring city of Izhevsk had suspended flights.

10:22 AM

For first time, Ukraine attacks Russian positions using solely ground, FPV drones.

A military spokesperson said the drones included ground systems equipped with machine guns, and kamikaze FPV drones.

9:14 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 762,440 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022

This number includes 1,860 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

7:33 AM

Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia injures 4, including child.

The attack damaged a 9-story apartment building in the city, Governor Ivan Fedorov said. Three women and a 12-year-old boy sustained injuries.

7:05 AM

OSCE urges Tbilisi to institute reforms in final report on Georgian parliamentary elections.

"To safeguard the democratic principles currently at stake in Georgia, it is imperative that the authorities urgently address all concerns," OSCE representative Eoghan Murphy said.

5:22 AM

Over 12,000 civilians killed in Ukraine during Russia's full-scale war, UN says.

Over 12,340 civilians were killed and more than 27,836 were wounded in Ukraine between Feb. 24, 2022 and Nov. 30, 2024, according to the United Nations.

4:16 AM

IMF approves $1.1 billion in funding for Ukraine.

The IMF approved the $1.1 billion tranche after completing its sixth review of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF), a plan to provide Ukraine with over $15 billion in budget support over four years.

3:28 AM

Russian drone attack in Kharkiv injures 6, including child.

The drone hit a 9-story residential building in the city's Saltivskyi district, authorities said. A 12-year-old child was among the injured.

2:24 AM

Trump plans to continue US military aid to Ukraine after inauguration, FT reports.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump plans to continue military support for Ukraine, the Financial Times reported on Dec. 20, citing undisclosed sources.

12:03 AM

Ukraine war latest: Russian An-72 military transport plane damaged in blast near Moscow, Ukraine's intel claims

11:37 PM

Druzhba pipeline disruption halts Russian, Kazakh oil shipments to Europe, Reuters reports.

Russian and Kazakh oil shipments to Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Germany via the Druzhba pipeline have been halted since Dec. 19 due to technical issues at a Russian pumping station, Reuters reported, citing anonymous sources.

11:04 PM

Ukraine, US agree on date of peace envoy Kellogg's visit to Kyiv, official says.

Tykhyi did not disclose the specific date of the visit for security reasons. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Dec. 19 that Kellogg would visit Ukraine before Trump's inauguration in January.

10:29 PM

Zelensky approves over 30 new ambassador appointments.

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the approval of over 30 Ukrainian ambassadorial appointments abroad during his evening address on Dec. 20.

10:14 PM

War analysis

Russian troops reportedly leave Burkina Faso due to Kursk incursion

Most popular

North Korean troops open fire on Russian unit, Ukraine's military intelligence claims

Intercepted Russian phone call suggests North Korean troops suffering trainloads of wounded

Belarusian soldiers fighting for Ukraine say time is running out for their brother-in-arms extradited to Belarus

Russia withdraws ships, weapons from Syria, Ukrainian intelligence reports

Syrian opposition takes full control of Latakia province hosting Russian bases, Russian media reports