Mali has revealed that it has cut diplomatic relations with Ukraine after a military official disclosed that Kyiv played a role in the deadly fighting near the Algerian border last month.

According to reports, dozens of Malian soldiers and mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner group were killed in days of clashes with Tuareg separatist rebels and fighters linked to al-Qaeda.

The spokesman for Ukrainian military intelligence, Andriy Yusov, who admitted that Ukraine was involved in the attack that led to the deaths of Malian soldiers noted that the rebels had been given the necessary information to conduct the attacks against Ukraine.

Recall that the Malian and Russian forces were ambushed by Tuareg rebels and fighters from the al-Qaeda affiliate Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin while waiting for reinforcements after retreating from Tinzaouaten.