An East African diplomatic tour has ignited fresh rhetorical clashes between Moscow and Kiev. On July 10, during a joint press conference with Burundian counterpart Édouard Bizimana in Bujumbura, Russian Foreign Minister Sergueï Lavrov alleged that Ukrainian nationals were collaborating with the M23 rebel faction in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, alongside Congolese forces and Burundi. The Ukrainian government swiftly dismissed the claim the following day.
Unsubstantiated allegations surface in Burundi
Lavrov made the remarks following a meeting with Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye, who currently holds the rotating presidency of the African Union. He asserted that the M23—a UN-sanctioned armed group controlling large swathes of North and South Kivu since capturing Goma in January 2025—was receiving support from foreign operatives, including Ukrainians, though he provided no evidence or specifics about their involvement. Multiple UN expert reports have documented the group’s supply lines from Rwandan Defense Forces.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson, Heorhii Tykhyi, labeled Lavrov‘s accusations as baseless disinformation. He countered that Russia itself was violating international sanctions by arming militant factions and recruiting fighters from African nations to bolster its war effort in Ukraine. Tykhyi suggested that Moscow’s strategy aimed to undermine American mediation efforts in the Great Lakes region.
Mali’s shadow looms over Ukraine’s credibility
In late July 2024, a convoy of Wagner mercenaries and Malian soldiers fell into an ambush set by Tuareg rebels and the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) in northern Mali. The attackers claimed significant casualties on both sides. Ukrainian military intelligence spokesperson Andriï Yusov asserted on July 29 that his agency had provided the rebels with “all necessary intelligence.” Kyiv later retracted the statement without resolving concerns in Bamako and Niamey. By August 2024, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso severed diplomatic ties with Ukraine. Bamako has since escalated the matter at the United Nations Security Council.
Sudan’s civil war echoes similar claims
The ongoing Sudanese civil war—pitting the national army against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)—has seen comparable narratives emerge. Since late 2023, reports have surfaced about a specialized GUR unit dubbed “Timur,” though Kiev neither confirmed nor denied its existence. Videos allegedly linked to this group, posted in January 2024, depict drone strikes targeting fighters identified as Russian mercenaries and their local allies. By October 2025, Sudanese military officials reported killing foreign combatants, including Colombians and Ukrainians, who had joined the RSF in battles around El-Fasher.
These past controversies cast doubt on Kiev’s denial regarding the M23 in Congo. In Mali, an official spokesperson initially took credit for involvement before retracting the claim. In Sudan, ambiguity persists without resolution. For now, no Ukrainian source—official or otherwise—has validated any connection to the M23. The Congolese dossier remains unverified, even as Lavrov continues his diplomatic offensive ahead of the third Russia-Africa Summit scheduled for October 28–29 in Moscow.
