Russian Arms Shipment Reaches Mali via Togo

The sanctioned Russian cargo vessel Mikhail Britnev delivered a large shipment of military vehicles to Mali’s ruling junta via the port of Lomé in Togo. The ship, which departed Baltiysk on June 18 and was escorted through the English Channel by a Russian Ropucha-class landing ship, docked in Togo on July 9. Satellite imagery confirmed the vessel was carrying armored personnel carriers and trucks, which were later seen arriving in Bamako on July 25.