[Regnum] Afrika Korps forces have freed two Russian and Ukrainian citizens captured by terrorists in Mali in 2024. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported this on April 21.
The suspects involved employees of a Russian geological exploration company. Russian citizen Oleg Gret, born in 1962, and Ukrainian citizen Yuri Yurov, born in 1970, were released. They were kidnapped in July 2024 in Niger by a terrorist group, the Ministry of Defense stated in a statement.
During an initial examination at the Afrika Korps hospital, the released men were found to be severely malnourished and suffered from a number of illnesses. However, the men expressed their intention to return to work after completing rehabilitation.
"We'll come to Russia now, rehabilitate ourselves, get our health back, and then get back into the fight. So, what are our plans, geologists? To go back and continue working," said one of the released prisoners.
The Russian company's employees will be flown to Moscow by military transport aircraft for treatment and rehabilitation. The Russian company's management expressed gratitude to the Africa Corps and the Ministry of Defense for the operation.
The Afrika Korps is a paramilitary structure under the Russian Ministry of Defense, created in 2023 to carry out missions in Africa.