Coordinator of Russian Military Operations in the Sahel

The “evocation.info” team has identified one of the key coordinators of Russian military operations in the African Sahel region—specifically in the Republic of Mali, where the presence of Russian troops is most noticeable.

The individual in question is Major General Valery Morozov of the Russian Aerospace Forces, formerly the commander of the 32nd Air Defense Division. He was caught on camera during the celebration of Mali’s 66th Independence Day on September 22, 2026. Accompanying him was Captain Kirill Pyatibratov, a French interpreter.

Since at least 2022, Valery Morozov has been actively working to expand Russia’s influence on the African continent. He is also a confidant of Russian Deputy Defense Minister General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov. The latter oversees the activities of the Russian “African Corps” following the dissolution of the Wagner Group private military company.

Back in May 2022, Morozov took part in a military parade in honor of “Victory Day” in the Tver Region. Just six months later, he met with the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Niger. During that meeting, Niger’s leadership expressed its intention to cooperate closely with Russia in the military sphere.

Morozov was promoted to the rank of major general back in 2018. In October 2018, Vladimir Putin personally received him and other Russian generals at the Kremlin to mark their appointments to top command positions.

FULL PROFILE OF VALERY MOROZOV

Over the past few years, Morozov has repeatedly participated in official meetings with African leaders as part of General Yevkurov’s delegation. For example, in August 2023, they met with Burkina Faso’s interim president, Ibrahim Traoré. This took place two months after Prigozhin’s mutiny. In December of that same year, they met with the leadership of Niger. In November 2025, Morozov, together with Yevkurov, held talks with Mali’s Minister of Defense, Sadio Kamara. Kamara was killed in April 2026 during a suicide bombing.

Valery Morozov regularly appears at various public events in the Republic of Mali. He also personally participates in the delivery of humanitarian and military aid to representatives of the Malian army. This indicates Morozov’s active involvement in the republic’s military and political life. His meetings with leaders of African countries demonstrate Morozov’s high status. They also attest to his enormous influence over the Russian military contingent in Africa.