A captured former Wagner Group fighter has alleged that Russian mercenaries used African prisoners as live targets for brutal medical training exercises in Mali, according to a clip shared by Ukrainian commentator Anton Gerashchenko.
The former mercenary, captured while fighting for Russia in Ukraine, claims Russian instructors deliberately inflicted horrific injuries on African prisoners during training exercises in Mali between 2023 and 2024. The allegations were publicised by Mr Gerashchenko, who said the fighter had provided details of the alleged abuse.
Claims of brutal training exercises
In the clip, the former Wagner operative said Russian mercenaries "used captured Africans as live subjects for brutal 'tactical medicine training'." He claimed that, in one exercise, "explosives were strapped to one prisoner's leg and detonated." Russian fighters then allegedly practised treating the resulting injury, including applying a tourniquet and bandaging the wound.
The former mercenary allegedly described another prisoner being shot in an artery near the armpit so fighters could practise stopping the bleeding. A third captive was allegedly used for knife training, with Russian fighters "practised stabbing a person in the heart," according to Mr Gerashchenko's account. Another prisoner allegedly had his leg chopped off with an axe.
All prisoners allegedly died
"According to the Russian mercenary, all of the prisoners died during these 'training exercises'," Mr Gerashchenko said. The former fighter reportedly told his interrogators that he was in Mali from September 2023 until April 2024. He had initially signed a contract with Wagner before travelling to Mali via Syria.
After returning to Russia, he signed a contract with the Russian Defence Ministry in 2025 and later joined the GRU's 14th separate special forces brigade. He was subsequently captured while fighting against Ukraine.
Context of documented abuses
The extraordinary claims have not been independently verified, and the account comes from a captured Russian fighter, meaning the circumstances in which the testimony was obtained are relevant when assessing it. But they come against a wider backdrop of documented abuses by Russian forces and their allies in Mali.
Wagner operated in Mali from 2021, supporting the country's military government in operations against Islamist and separatist groups. The group officially announced its withdrawal from Mali in June 2025, but many former Wagner fighters remained and joined Russia's Defence Ministry-controlled Africa Corps. Human Rights Watch has documented widespread abuses by Malian forces, Wagner and Africa Corps in Mali, including killings, beatings and the detention of civilians.
Russia's Africa Corps now numbers roughly 2,000 to 2,500 personnel in Mali, according to recent reporting, with many former Wagner fighters among its ranks.
