Ukraine deploys drone specialists to Africa, Middle East to target Russian interests: Report

File photo: An Iranian Shahed exploding drone. Ukraine has expanded its fight against Russia beyond the battlefield at home, deploying drone specialists to Africa and military teams to the Middle East to train forces fighting Russian- and Iranian-made drones, according to a CNN report.CNN, citing Ukrainian soldiers, officers and a Ukrainian Defense Intelligence source, reported that around 15 Ukrainian specialists were deployed in northern Mali, where they were helping Tuareg-led rebel forces fighting Russian troops and providing drone training, operational support and tactical assistance.The deployments were part of Kyiv’s effort to target Russian interests wherever Moscow has established a military presence, the report said. Ukrainian officials have previously acknowledged providing information to the Tuareg rebels, although Kyiv later denied substantial cooperation with them.One Ukrainian drone operator in Mali told CNN that he coordinated missions remotely, receiving drone signals over the internet and directing rebel fighters by radio. The Ukrainian team was not directly involved in frontline combat, according to the report.Beyond the battlefieldThe deployment comes as Russia ...