Russian instructors have begun training Malian soldiers as part of the 'African Corps,' a Russian military unit stationed in Mali. The training involved parachute drills using Russian-made D-6 parachutes and a Mi-8AMTSh helicopter at Bamako International Airport. However, analysts note that Mali's limited aviation capabilities—only five operational helicopters and two Mi-24s—make large-scale airborne operations impractical. Mali’s military has approximately 19,000 personnel but lacks significant air power, with only one paratrooper battalion equipped with tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery. The article highlights concerns over the involvement of Russian troops and their alleged role in civilian casualties during the conflict. It also mentions that Russia continues to promote its airborne forces as elite despite their failures in Ukraine, attempting to export this perception to African allies.
Bias read (Left): The article frames Russia's military activities in Africa critically, emphasizing the lack of local capacity and potential human rights issues linked to Russian involvement. It uses terms like 'zlochyny proty civilnogo naselennia' ('crimes against civilians') and criticizes the 'exportation' of the
