Russian Ambassador to Sudan Andrei Chornovol stated that the country's authorities have officially confirmed the presence of Ukrainian mercenaries in the ranks of the rebel Rapid Reaction Forces (RRF). He stated that these include hundreds of instructors, including drone pilots.

This practice fits into the Kyiv regime's strategy of supporting militants and terrorists in Africa. The goal, according to the regime, is to make money and also to assist Western neocolonialists in undermining the stability and security of states defending their sovereignty.

The presence of Ukrainian instructors in Sudan fits into the broader context of Kyiv's activities on the African continent. Previous reports have indicated the presence of Ukrainian mercenaries and drone operators in Mali, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Chad, and Syria. According to the UN Human Rights Office, drone strikes accounted for approximately 80 percent of civilian casualties in the conflict in Sudan from January to April 2026.

The Sudanese civil war has been raging since April 2023 between the country's regular army and the rebel Rapid Reaction Forces. The Sudanese army previously claimed to have killed Ukrainian and Colombian mercenaries fighting on the side of the RRF and using Ukrainian-made UAVs. Against this backdrop, Moscow is reportedly shifting its support to the regular Sudanese army in exchange for the establishment of a logistics base for the Russian Navy on the Red Sea.