Suspicious flights of Armenian Shirak Avia from Moscow to Bamako
An Armenian airline named Shirak Avia is operating on a very suspicious route from Moscow to Bamako. This aircraft possibly flies Russian mercenaries to Mali.
The aircraft is Boeing 737-800 registered EK-SHD. The normal route of this aircraft is Yerevan to Moscow. It flew this route dozens of times since December 1, 2024. At December 29 the route of this aircraft started to change. It then flew from Yerevan via Jeddah to Bangui in Central African Republic. This route was also flown on December 31 , January 20, January 29. Russian Africa Corps (formerly Wagner) is active in the CAR.
Another remarkable flight started at January 31 when the aircraft flew Yerevan to Juba in Sudan. In the next days the aircraft flew from Juba to several unknown destinations. Possibly Jeddah. One of them was Port Sudan. On February 4 the aircraft flew Juba to Yerevan.
At February 23 a new series of suspicious flights started. The aircraft then flew Moscow Vnukovo to Cairo. It then continued to Bamako in Mali. At the Mali airport it parked at the military apron. At February 23 the aircraft flew Bamako, Cairo to Moscow. At February 24 the aircraft flew again Moscow-Cairo-Bamako. At February 25 the aircraft flew Bamako, Cairo . This repeated several times. The aircraft was at Bamako at March 2, March 6 and March 8.
In December 2024 multiple IL76 cargo aircraft flew from Russia to Bamako. Likely transporting materials to support the Russian Africa Corps troops in the country.
The photo below shows Bamako airport. At the southern part is the military apron. The flightradar track shows it is always parked at the military apron. Russian mercenaries are confirmed to be operating in Mali.
