Wagner Recovers Bodies of 80 Mercenaries Killed in July Mali Battle

Oct 9, 2024, 06:35 AM

Russia's mercenary Wagner Group has reported that its fighters recovered the bodies of their men killed in a July battle in Mali. According to text messages seen by Reuters, Wagner informed the family of a Russian fighter captured alive in Mali that he has now died, contradicting information provided by the Tuareg rebel group that held him. Wagner claims to have repatriated roughly half of its reported losses, approximately 80 men, while two mercenaries are still reportedly in captivity. The bodies were recovered near Tinzaouaten, Mali, during a desert sandstorm, and were returned to Russia. The battle involved Tuareg rebels, Islamist forces, and the Malian Armed Forces.