Exclusive: Identities of Wagner Mercenaries Killed in Mali Ambush Revealed by Reuters

By Filipp Lebedev, Felix Light, Jessica Donati

LONDON/DAKAR – Among the Wagner mercenaries believed to have perished in a deadly clash with Tuareg rebels during a sandstorm in Mali last July were veterans of Russian military campaigns in Ukraine, Libya, and Syria, according to accounts from relatives and analysis of social media data.

This significant loss highlights the risks faced by Russian mercenary forces employed by military juntas, which are currently grappling with separatist movements and influential factions linked to Islamic State and Al Qaeda throughout the Sahel region, particularly in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

The defeat in Mali raises questions about whether Russia, which has confirmed its financial backing of Wagner and has integrated many of its fighters into a defense ministry unit, will achieve more success than the Western and U.N. forces that were recently ousted by these military governments, as stated by six officials and experts familiar with the region.

Through a combination of public information, online postings from families and fighters, conversations with seven relatives, and facial recognition software analysis of verified battlefield videos, it was determined that 23 fighters were missing in action and two were captured by Tuareg forces during the ambush near Tinzaouaten, a town close to the Algerian border.

Several of the fallen mercenaries had previously survived the intense siege of Bakhmut in Ukraine, which Wagner’s late leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, described as a "meat grinder." Others had experience from conflicts in Libya, Syria, and beyond, including former Russian soldiers, with at least one having retired after a full military career.

Disturbing footage featuring deceased fighters has circulated online, with some relatives reporting that the bodies of their loved ones were left in the desert. The precise number of identified men reported dead remains unverified.

Margarita Goncharova shared that her son, Vadim Evsiukov, 31, was initially recruited while incarcerated for a drug offense in 2022. He rapidly ascended to lead a platoon of 500 in Ukraine. After returning home and facing survivor’s guilt, he secretly traveled to Africa in April to rejoin his former commander, despite his mother’s warnings against it.

"The risk was immense, but he had the opportunity to start anew," Goncharova recounted during an interview.

Neither the Russian Ministry of Defence nor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to inquiries regarding this situation.

Following Prigozhin’s death last August, Wagner members were invited to join a newly formed unit called the Africa Corps under the defense ministry, tasked with "fighting for justice and Russia’s interests."

Reports indicate that approximately half of Africa Corps personnel are former Wagner members who are permitted to use the Wagner insignia, while Wagner’s social media presence remains active.

The Russian government has yet to comment publicly on the battle in Tinzaouaten. The military-led government in Mali stated that the setback did not hinder its objectives. Colonel Major Souleymane Dembele, an army spokesman, asserted the commitment to restore state authority nationwide.

Wagner has acknowledged significant losses in the Mali engagement but has not disclosed specific figures, and the Malian armed forces did not issue a casualty count. In contrast, Tuareg rebels claimed to have killed 84 Russians and 47 Malians during the confrontation.

Independent verification of casualty figures has proven challenging. One reportedly verified video shared by a Tuareg rebel spokesperson depicted at least 47 bodies, predominantly of Western-looking men in military uniforms, lying in the desert.

Prominent Russian defense blogger Mikhail Zvinchuk suggested that the defeat showcased a miscalculation by Wagner fighters—who arrived from Ukraine regarding the strength of the Tuareg and Al Qaeda forces.

Reports identified two individuals among the deceased as Nikita Fedyakin, the administrator of a large Wagner-focused Telegram channel, and Sergei Shevchenko, described as a unit commander, though the latter’s identity has not been independently confirmed.

Through cross-referencing information and social media activity, 23 Wagner operators were identified as missing in Mali after their families received notifications from Wagner recruiters alerting them of their status on August 6.

Lyubov Bazhenova lamented her lack of knowledge regarding her son Vladimir Akimov’s recruitment into Wagner, expressing frustration over the organization’s failure to provide details about his possible fate or the location of his body. Her attempts to reach out to various governmental bodies for information have gone unanswered.

Facial-recognition software also identified two men taken captive by Tuareg fighters, as confirmed by the rebels via social media postings. Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, a spokesperson for the rebel confederation, affirmed that the two captives were in their custody as of late August.

Among the experienced fighters was Alexander Lazarev, 48, a veteran who had served in conflicts against Chechen rebels in the 1990s and 2000s, as per his wife’s updates in the Wagner channel.

The series of coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger since 2020 has seen the overthrow of democratically elected governments, fueled by public discontent with corruption and the decade-long failure of Western missions aimed at combating insurgencies responsible for widespread violence and displacement.

These military juntas have expelled French, U.S., and U.N. peacekeeping forces from their territories.

Wagner first emerged in Sudan in 2017, serving as a covert tool of Russian operations. Its activities quickly expanded to include protecting coup leaders, gold mining, and engaging in combat against jihadist factions, with Mali being a notable area of operation since late 2021.

The trajectory of Wagner shifted throughout 2023, achieving significant victories in Ukraine, particularly during the capture of Bakhmut in May. However, following Prigozhin’s public criticism of Russian military leaders and his subsequent attempted rebellion—before his death in a plane crash—the group’s influence has evolved. The Kremlin has dismissed allegations linking Putin to Prigozhin’s demise as completely unfounded.

Eric Whitaker, the former U.S. envoy to Burkina Faso, noted that the Russian government seems to have reclaimed complete control over the Wagner brand in the wake of Prigozhin’s death.

"Africa Corps is generating substantial revenue for the Russian government from host nations while also gaining profits from gold extracted during its operations in the Sahel," he commented.

Reports indicate a surge in Russian mercenary activities in Mali subsequent to the formation of Africa Corps, with data suggesting an increase in violent incidents linked to these forces and a rise in civilian casualties over the past year compared to the previous period.

While recruitment figures are not publicly disclosed, estimates suggest around 6,000 Russian mercenaries are currently operating in Africa, with between 1,500 to 2,000 stationed in Mali.

"The response to Africa Corps’ recruitment efforts has been overwhelming," said analyst Jędrzej Czerep. "Deployments to African missions are perceived as significantly safer than those in Ukraine."

Tuareg spokesperson Ramadane indicated the rebel alliance was bracing for further conflicts.

Should losses continue to escalate, it may jeopardize Russia’s standing in the region, a sentiment echoed by Tibor Nagy, a former U.S. envoy to Africa, who highlighted a past withdrawal of Wagner forces from northern Mozambique following casualties in clashes with an Islamic State affiliate.

While plans moving forward for Wagner in Mali remain unclear, further developments will undoubtedly shape the landscape of foreign mercenary engagement in the Sahel region.