(MENAFN- UkrinForm) Ukrainian intelligence is checking the statements of Tuareg rebels from Mali regarding their readiness to hand over captured mercenaries of the Russian PMC Wagner.

This was announced by a representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), Andriy Yusov, on the air of the United News telethon, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"This is sensitive information. There is such data, it is being checked. We will not comment on the details," Yusov said.

According to him, the Russian Federation used mercenaries of the Wagner PMC to resolve geopolitical and economic issues, change or support governments.

"And today, the whole world sees that, in fact, this is not the same potential and Russia's capabilities are far from the same. This means that there will be fewer new orders and fewer counts on them as an accurate tool for solving problems in the region," the DIU representative said.

Read also: Mali rebels offer to hand over captured Wagnerites to Ukrain

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Tuareg rebels (CSP-PSD) in northern Mali defeated a large group of Wagnerites, capturing a significant number of militants, and offered to hand them over to the Ukrainian side.

After the military coup in May 2021 , Mali is ruled by a military junta that maintains close ties with Russia and turns to mercenaries from the Wagner PMC controlled by the Russian special services.

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