Recently, a shocking video has surfaced online showing a fighter from the Russian private military company (PMC) Wagner Group in Mali choosing death over capture. The fighter played dead before attacking Tuareg militants with a stone in a last stand during an ambush near the village of Tinzawaten.
The video suggests that the Tuareg insurgents killed multiple PMC contractors and took some hostage during the attack. One fighter, believed to be from the Wagner Group, bravely stood up against the militants, ultimately meeting his demise.
The ambush resulted in the destruction of several vehicles in the military convoy, and even a military attack helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing. Nikita Fedyanin, a prominent Russian military blogger associated with the Wagner Group, is rumored to be among those killed in the attack.
The PMC has been providing support to the Malian military in their clashes with Tuareg insurgents near the Algerian border. This harrowing incident showcases the dangers faced by contractors in volatile regions like Mali.