An aircraft reportedly carrying members of the Russian Africa Corps crashed near Gao, in northern Mali, amid a wave of coordinated attacks against military positions in the country.
A helicopter linked to Russian forces operating in Mali was reportedly shot down near the city of Gao, in the north of the country, according to reports from sources connected to Russian military aviation and representatives of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA).
The information was initially attributed to Russian propagandist Ilya Tumanov, administrator of the military aviation channel Fighterbomber. He did not provide details about the aircraft model or the exact circumstances of the crash, but stated that the preliminary cause was “external fire impact,” a term typically associated with anti-aircraft weaponry. According to these reports, the crew and an armed group being transported by the helicopter were killed in the crash.
Initial reports of the possible shootdown began circulating on April 25, when FLA representatives claimed to have downed a helicopter in the Gao region. At first, there were no clear images of the wreckage. Later, videos allegedly from the crash site appeared on social media, but without allowing definitive identification of the aircraft.
🇲🇱🚨| At least one malian helicopter down near Wabaria.
As for now i can also confirm the presence of JNIM in Kati, and the progress of FLA in Kidal
Bamako airbase (101) was also attacked and is closed.
Sadio Camara (malian defence minister) house got partly destroyed by a… https://t.co/8MzQqmTyMB pic.twitter.com/8SqaCsq2FC
— Casus Belli (@casusbellii) April 25, 2026
Large-scale offensive in Mali
The crash occurred amid a coordinated offensive targeting several strategic regions of Mali. Attacks were reported in Bamako, Kati, Gao, Kidal, Mopti, and Sévaré, hitting military bases, areas near airports, and other sensitive locations. JNIM, a group linked to Al-Qaeda, and Tuareg rebels from the Azawad Liberation Front claimed actions on multiple fronts.
According to Reuters, the Malian army said it repelled the attacks and claimed to have killed “several hundred” attackers, a figure that has not been independently verified. The government also reported that 16 people were injured, and local authorities imposed curfews in affected areas, including Bamako and Gao.
Russian presence in the Sahel
Russia maintains a military presence in Mali through the Africa Corps, a structure linked to the Russian Ministry of Defense and seen as the successor to the former Wagner Group’s operations in the country. These forces support the Malian military government in operations against Tuareg rebels in the north and jihadist groups in central regions.
Reports indicate that Russian personnel operate from key bases such as Gao, Kidal, and Sévaré, and also take part in protecting gold mines and other mineral deposits in exchange for security contracts with local authorities.
Warning signal for Bamako and Moscow
The possible shootdown of the helicopter represents a sensitive episode for the Malian government and for the Russian presence in the Sahel. In addition to highlighting growing risks to air operations in a region marked by constant clashes, the case suggests that local armed groups may be expanding their capability to strike higher-value targets.
The situation in Gao and Kidal remains unstable. The FLA claimed to have taken positions in Gao and Kidal, while the Malian government stated it had regained control of the attacked areas. However, these claims have not yet been independently verified.
+ U.S. deploys anti-ship missiles in the Philippines during Balikatan 2026
Source and images: Militarnyi, X @casusbellii , aviation-safety.net. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
