Russian propaganda spreads fake about Ukraine transferring chemical weapons to Mali rebels

Russian propaganda media outlets TASS and Sputnik, along with several media outlets from Africa, pro-war Telegram channels and bots on X, have been circulating a photo of a destroyed house in a village in Mali. The reports from Russian and Malian media outlets claim that the local anti-government group Jabhat al-Nusra (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate, is responsible for these attacks. According to these reports, the group allegedly used 120mm mines containing white phosphorus (a chemical weapon) that were supposedly transferred from Ukraine. The claims are based on statements from a captured Tuareg rebel, who was supposedly captured by government forces in the region.

However, this narrative is completely false. The “source” cited by TASS is the Malian media outlet AES INFO. The Russians refer to AES INFO as the “official” news outlet of the Alliance of Sahel States, which includes Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. In reality, this outlet does not even have its own website. Therefore, TASS cites the Telegram channel of AES INFO, which has only 3,600 subscribers. In addition to the Telegram channel, AES INFO maintains an unverified page on X, which was created in September 2023. The limited content produced by AES INFO mostly concerns Russia and the relationship between the Sahel countries and Russian officials.

AES INFO’s claim that Ukraine supplied white phosphorus weapons is also based on references to another Malian media outlet, aBamako, which in turn cites Sputnik Afrika. This results in a circular citation, with the Russian and Malian outlets referencing each other without providing credible evidence. The Russians do not provide hyperlinks to their sources but simply list the names, likely to confuse readers.

To “prove” Ukraine’s involvement in the transfer of white phosphorus weapons, these sources cite a screenshot from a video posted by the az-Zallaka channel, which is associated with the terrorist group al-Qaeda. They also refer to an unknown captured rebel as the only “proof” of their claims. This message began circulating on November 26, 2024.

The original footage was first posted on November 6, 2024, 20 days before Russian propagandists began sharing it. The video was shared on X by France 24 journalist Wassim Nasr, who, unlike AES INFO, has a verified account. Nasr clarified that the footage showed the aftermath of an attack by Malian government forces and the Russian Wagner Group on civilians, in retaliation for actions by local rebels.

“Following the attack on the Boni checkpoints, Wagner and the Malian armed forces sent a punitive expedition to this sector. According to informants and judging by the photos of the JNIM, civilians were targeted,” Nasr wrote.

This version of events is further corroborated by Malian observer Eugene Djoko. In a post on X, Djoko called the AES INFO report a fake and posted footage showing rebels attacking a checkpoint of Russian mercenaries and government forces, as well as revenge attacks against the local population.

It is important to note that Ukraine does not possess white phosphorus ammunition in its arsenal. Throughout the war, Ukraine has repeatedly requested such weapons from the United States but has been denied. In contrast, Russia has actively used white phosphorus shells in its war against Ukraine. There have been numerous reports of Russia using such ammunition against Ukrainian forces, particularly in Bakhmut, Mariupol, and Popasna.

Attacks involving white phosphorus weapons in civilian areas are considered war crimes, as they create fires that spread rapidly and are extremely difficult to extinguish. The high temperature of white phosphorus (up to 1,300°C) causes it to set fire to everything around it. The use of phosphorus bombs is prohibited by the Geneva Conventions.

In 2021, Russia, with the help of the Wagner PMC, orchestrated a military coup in Mali. In 2022, they did the same in Burkina Faso, and in 2023 in Niger. Russian fighters have been fighting local rebels in these countries.

In July 2024, rebels in Mali destroyed a Wagner PMC convoy, killing several people, including well-known Russian propagandist “Belyy,” the author of the Russian Telegram channel Grey Zone. Another Wagner convoy in Mali was attacked by Jabhat al-Nusra on November 21, 2024.

The Wagner Group has been responsible for numerous crimes against humanity in Ukraine, Africa, and the Middle East. Russia has consistently tried to deflect responsibility for these crimes by blaming Ukraine. Such fakes are part of a broader Russian disinformation campaign to shift the blame for Russia’s own actions onto Ukraine. This is also an attempt to reinforce the narrative that Ukraine is supposedly supplying weapons to terrorists worldwide.

Earlier, Ukrinform refuted the fake that Ukraine’s arable land had been sold to foreign businessmen.

Andriy Olenin