Ukraine firmly rejects accusations by Mali and Niger that it is allegedly supporting illegal armed groups and interfering in the internal affairs of Sahel states.
This is stated in a comment by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
The ministry noted that similar accusations had been made before, and that they have recently been circulated again, including during the high-level segment of the UN General Assembly in September 2026.
"We caution against new information dumps on this topic and draw attention to the fact that since the aforementioned states severed diplomatic relations with Ukraine, no credible evidence has been provided to substantiate these accusations," the Foreign Ministry stressed.
The ministry also said the allegations against Ukraine reproduce key narratives of Russian propaganda aimed at undermining trust in the Ukrainian state and weakening its relations with African partners.
At the same time, Ukraine urged the international community to pay attention to the activities of Russian military structures in Sahel countries, in particular their role in destabilising the region and possible human rights violations.
The Foreign Ministry stressed that Ukraine respects the sovereignty of Mali and Niger; however, the principle of respect for territorial integrity and independence must apply equally to all states.
"You cannot simultaneously demand respect for the sovereignty of African states while denying Ukraine’s right to sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognised borders," the ministry underlined.
Ukraine also confirmed its readiness to discuss specific concerns with Mali, Niger and other Sahel states on the basis of facts, mutual respect and international law.