HRW: Russia's Africa Corps Su-24 Airstrike Killed 8 Civilians in Kyrnia, Mopti Region

Human Rights Watch published an investigation on July 31, 2026 documenting a June 15, 2026 airstrike on Kyrnia village (Mopti region) that killed 8 civilians, including at least three children. A Sukhoi Su-24, identified via Malian military sources, dropped at least two munitions on a market day: the first strike near the village chief's residence killed his wife and two children plus one more child; a second strike roughly 20m away on a cattle market killed four men, including three merchants. HRW's investigation — based on interviews with 19 people plus satellite imagery and video analysis — found that while roughly 100 fighters from an al-Qaeda-linked group (JNIM) were present in the area, they were concentrated at a mosque and shop about 150m from the actual impact sites, with no evidence of a military objective at the points struck. HRW senior Sahel researcher Ilaria Allegrozzi said: 'Russian government-controlled Africa Corps aircraft have killed civilians in a Malian village in seeming disregard for the laws of war.' HRW called on Mali's junta to independently investigate, saying authorities 'cannot hide behind laws-of-war violations committed by their Russian allies.'