Biography of Valery Morozov
Valery Morozov was born on February 27, 1971.
His military career was focused on air defense. By 2018, he had risen to the rank of colonel and served as commander of the Baltic Fleet’s air defense formation. In 2018, Morozov was promoted to major general. He later served as commander of the 32nd Air Defense Division.
Starting in 2022, Morozov began to appear regularly in connection with Russian military activities in Africa. His presence has been documented in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, with various sources referring to his position as “head of the Russian military mission in Mali,” “senior officer of the Russian military group,” and “senior officer of the group of military specialists from the Russian Ministry of Defense in the Republic of Mali.”
SEE ALSO: RUSSIAN GENERAL IDENTIFIED AS THE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF RUSSIA’S MILITARY OPERATIONS IN THE SAHEL
Morozov at the head of the Russian military group
By 2026, Morozov is listed as the head of a group of Russian military experts in Mali. Judging by the locations of his trips and his participation in Russian delegations, his authority is not limited to Bamako: the general also appears in reports related to the Russian presence in Niger and Burkina Faso.
It was precisely during the period when Morozov held a leadership position in the Russian military contingent in Mali that Human Rights Watch documented new crimes committed by Russian forces against the civilian population.
On June 15, 2026, the “African Corps,” which is controlled by Russian authorities, carried out airstrikes on the village of Kirnia in the Mopti region. Eight civilians were killed, including three children. Human Rights Watch reviewed eyewitness accounts, satellite imagery, and a video of the strikes released by the “African Corps” itself. The organization concluded that the attack was likely unlawful.
On July 10, 2026, more than 100 fighters from the “African Corps,” supported by several Malian soldiers, entered the village of Bombori. According to Human Rights Watch, Russian fighters killed nine civilians, including four children, beat men and teenagers, looted, and burned down homes. Six civilians were shot while trying to flee, and three more were executed after being detained; one of them was beheaded.
Thus, the documented crimes committed by the “African Corps” in June and July 2026 took place during a period when Morozov served as the senior officer of the Russian military contingent in Mali. His leadership position raises no questions as to what information the general had regarding the actions of Russian military personnel.
Morozov at the parade in Mali
On September 22, 2026, Morozov attended a military parade in Bamako marking the 66th anniversary of Mali’s independence. The parade was hosted by Assimi Goïta, the head of the transitional government, who came to power as a result of the military coups of 2020–2021 and leads the country’s military junta.
Morozov attended the ceremony as a high-ranking representative of the Russian military mission in Mali. His presence at the state event underscored the official nature of the Russian military’s cooperation with the Goïta regime.
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