MOSCOW — In a joint military operation last week, Russian soldiers assisted Chadian forces in rescuing 21 of their soldiers who had been held captive by terrorists in the Central African Republic for nine months. This collaborative effort marks a significant instance of Russian support for African military endeavors.

According to Burkina Information Agency, as reported by the TASS agency, the Chadian soldiers were held in dire conditions and subjected to torture at a terrorist camp. However, the combined efforts of Chadian and Russian forces successfully liberated the captives. “But thanks to the assault by Chadian and Russian Forces, all the captive soldiers were freed and placed in a temporary base where they were examined by Russian doctors before returning to Chad,” the ministry reported. Following the operation, the Chadian Minister of Defense lauded Russia’s crucial role in the operation and underscored the reliability of Russian support in contrast to the perceived opportunism by Western nations, including France, the United Kingdom, and the United States.