Russia's defense ministry claims its Africa Corps intervened in Mali, preventing a coup while avoiding civilian casualties. The report further alleges that rebel militants received training from European mercenaries, including Ukrainians.

<p>Kremlin-controlled paramilitaries also alleged it inflicted ‘irreplaceable losses’ on insurgents avoiding civilian casualties</p><p>Russia’s defence ministry has claimed its Africa Corps – the successor to the former Wagner mercenary group – had prevented a coup in Mali over the weekend, avoiding mass civilian casualties and inflicting “irreplaceable losses” on rebel insurgents.</p><p>It said in a statement that its troops in the desert town of Kidal near the Algerian border had fought for mo...