A large batch of Russian equipment has been spotted in Mali, including T-72B3M tanks, BMP-3s, BTR-82As, Spartak armored vehicles, Linza vehicles, and Tigr vehicles.
The delivery also included KamAZ-4385 armored trucks, engineering obstacle clearing vehicles, demining vehicles (designed to clear the way for a column of equipment, demining the area).
The markings indicate that the equipment was transported in Russia by rail.
Defence blog author Dylan Malyasov suggested that the dispatch of military equipment indicates Russia's increased support for Mali. However, the Russian Ministry of Defense has not made any statements about the transfer of weapons to the African state.
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