The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russian forces would stay in Mali to help the country's government battle terrorists following an offensive over the weekend by Tuareg-led separatists and terrorists.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made the statement after being asked by a reporter how Russia responded to a purported statement from the terrorists saying they wanted Russia to leave Mali.

"Russia's presence there is, in fact, due to the need identified by the current government. Russia will continue, including in Mali, to combat extremism, terrorism and other harmful phenomena and will continue to provide assistance to the current government," said Peskov.

The Russian Defence Ministry had claimed on Tuesday that units of its African Corps prevented an attempted coup on April 25, 2026 in Mali.

It said in a statement that the African Corps units "inflicted irreparable losses" on superior enemy forces, preventing a change of power.

The Africa Corps withdrew from Mali’s northern town of Kidal after the attacks by separatists and terrorists on strategic positions that had been held by authorities.