By Smartencyclopedia with Agencies
A Russian private military company with ties to the Russian Defense Ministry is reportedly pulling out of Burkina Faso due to Ukraine’s recent incursion into Russia’s Kursk Oblast. The French newspaper Le Monde reported on August 29 that the withdrawal marks a significant shift in Russia’s military focus.
The unit in question, known as the Bears Brigade, comprises around 100 soldiers and arrived in Burkina Faso in May 2023 to support the country’s junta, led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré. Traoré seized power in a coup in September 2022 and has sought closer ties with Moscow since then. His relationship with Russia was highlighted during his visit to the Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg in July, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and participated in Russian Navy Day celebrations.
Estimates suggest that around 300 Russian troops, including the Bears Brigade, have been deployed in Burkina Faso. However, the recent developments in Ukraine appear to have prompted a reassessment of their mission. On August 22, following Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk Oblast, Le Monde contacted Viktor Yermolaev, the commander of the Bears Brigade, via Telegram. Yermolaev indicated that the situation in Ukraine had altered their priorities.
“When the enemy arrives on our Russian territory, all Russian soldiers forget about internal problems and unite against a common enemy,” Yermolaev told Le Monde. The Bears Brigade’s Telegram channel confirmed on August 27 that the unit was returning to its base in Russian-occupied Crimea “in connection with recent events.”
Yermolaev also claimed that the Bears Brigade has “no connection with the Russian Defense Ministry,” despite evidence suggesting otherwise. Formed in March 2023, the Bears Brigade is part of a military grouping called Redut, which claims to operate as a private military company. However, an investigation by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in 2023 revealed that Redut is controlled by Russia’s military intelligence agency, the GRU.
Burkina Faso has become a focal point of Russian efforts to expand its influence in Africa, with Russian forces playing a crucial role in supporting the junta. The withdrawal of the Bears Brigade could have significant implications for Russia’s broader strategy on the continent.
This development follows recent diplomatic tensions between Ukraine and Burkina Faso’s neighbors, Mali and Niger. Both nations severed ties with Ukraine after accusing Kyiv of supporting local Tuareg-led rebels. These rebels reportedly inflicted heavy losses on Malian soldiers and Russian Wagner Group mercenaries in late July. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry denied the allegations, calling Mali’s decision “hasty” and arguing that no evidence had been provided to support the claims.
As Russian troops shift their focus back to the homeland in response to the escalating conflict in Kursk, the situation in Burkina Faso and the broader West African region remains uncertain.