Ex-Wagner mercenary

British: Russia deploys Afrika Korps in Ukraine

Russian soldiers arrive by train.

(Bild: The Associated Press)

The Kremlin is likely to have withdrawn soldiers from its Africa Corps and sent them to the front in Ukraine. Many of them are likely to have been part of the Wagner group.

In recent weeks, units have been deployed alongside regular Russian forces and punitive units during the offensive in Vovchansk in the north of Kharkiv, the British Ministry of Defense announced on Platform X on Friday.

The African Corps of the Russian Ministry of Defense was formed in December 2023 and consists of more than 2,000 regular soldiers and officers as well as experienced mercenaries, many of whom had previously served in the Wagner Group, the British wrote. Troops from the Africa Corps had most likely previously been deployed in Syria, Libya, Burkina Faso and Niger.

Russia likely to step up war with Africa resources
The Russian Ministry of Defense almost certainly deployed units to the Ukrainian border in April in preparation for the offensive, London said. "It is highly likely that Russia is reinforcing its war against Ukraine with resources previously allocated to Africa."

Ukraine has been defending itself against a war of aggression by Russia for more than two years. Since then, the British Ministry of Defense has regularly published information on the progress of the war.