Ukraine’s overseas ministry stated on Thursday (Aug 8) Niger’s choice to chop diplomatic ties with Kyiv was “regrettable” and that Kyiv noticed the transfer as based mostly on groundless and unfaithful allegations.
Niger’s junta stated on Tuesday it was performing in solidarity with Mali which earlier broke off ties with Kyiv over remarks by a Ukrainian navy intelligence official that it stated confirmed Kyiv’s help for rebels combating in northern Mali.
“It’s regrettable that the authorities of Niger have determined to terminate diplomatic relations with Ukraine with out conducting any investigation into the incident in Mali or offering any proof as to the explanations for such a step,” the Ukrainian overseas ministry stated.
Tuareg rebels stated they killed at least 84 Russian Wagner mercenaries throughout combating in July in what appeared the heaviest defeat for Wagner because it stepped in two years in the past to assist Mali’s navy authorities combat rebel teams.
Wagner, a non-public military, performed a serious function within the struggle in Ukraine till final 12 months when its forces mutinied in Russia and its chief died in an air crash a month later. It nonetheless has operations in a lot of African international locations.
The row stems from televised remarks by Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s navy spy company, who stated that Malian rebels had acquired the “crucial” data to conduct their assault.
In its assertion, the Ukrainian overseas ministry stated Kyiv rejected any allegations of its help for “worldwide terrorism”.
“The accusations towards Ukraine cited within the assertion by a consultant of the federal government of (Niger) don’t stand as much as any criticism, are groundless and don’t correspond to actuality,” it stated.
Ukraine is locked in heavy fighting with Russia within the third 12 months of Moscow’s full-scale invasion, and attempting to win over worldwide help, particularly within the World South.
