Newly surfaced images reveal Ukrainian drone experts working alongside Sudanese military forces, specifically with the Al-Bara bin Malik Battalion at Wadi Seidna Airbase, located north of Omdurman.
These visuals, widely circulated on social media, suggest that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) are increasingly relying on foreign expertise in their ongoing conflict against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has persisted since April of last year.
This revelation follows earlier reports, notably from The Wall Street Journal, that Ukrainian special forces have been involved in combat operations alongside the Sudanese military. This collaboration appears to be part of Ukraine’s broader strategy to disrupt Russian military and economic activities abroad. By supporting Sudan, Kyiv aims to increase the cost and difficulty of Russia’s international engagements.
The relationship between Sudan and Ukraine reportedly deepened last summer when General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the leader of the Sudanese military, found himself cornered by RSF forces in the capital. In a desperate move, al-Burhan sought help from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Reports indicate that Sudan had secretly supplied weapons to Ukraine in 2022, establishing a covert alliance that is now visible through this direct military cooperation.
Despite efforts by Sudanese military-aligned media to dismiss these reports, claiming the images show interactions between Sudanese youth and foreign journalists, social media users have verified the authenticity of the photos. One user notably confirmed, “These are pictures of Ukrainian officers working with the Sudanese army,” reinforcing the narrative of foreign involvement in Sudan’s internal conflict.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan, originally a power struggle between General al-Burhan’s SAF and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo’s (Hemedti) RSF, has increasingly attracted international attention. The RSF is reportedly receiving support from Russia, particularly through the Wagner Group, turning Sudan into a proxy battleground for global powers.
The presence of Ukrainian military personnel in Sudan marks a significant escalation in the conflict, indicating that it has become a stage for global strategic interests. Ukraine’s involvement likely serves as a countermeasure against Russian influence in Africa while seeking to bolster its own international alliances and military objectives.
