A Soviet-designed cargo plane thought to be carrying Wagner fighters crashed in Mali, killing large numbers of the mercenaries in an explosion purportedly captured on video.

An unverified clip shared widely on social media appears to show the Ilyushin Il-76 plane touching down on a runway before overshooting the end of the strip, crashing and bursting into flames.

The plane is seen consumed by fire in a separate picture allegedly showing the aftermath of the crash in the northern city of Gao.

Mali’s authorities have not officially commented on the crash, which took place over the weekend.

It is believed to have involved one of the country’s fleet of military planes, carrying Wagner mercenaries working in the West African nation.

However, the ruling junta paid tribute to a lieutenant colonel who relatives said was killed in the incident.

Military sources earlier this week told AFP that the crash, on Sept 23, involved a Malian army plane ferrying Wagner forces. Airport and emergency services reported a large number of white casualties after the accident.

Mali’s military leaders seized power in a May 2021 coup headed by Colonel Assimi Goita and turned to Wagner for support in a battle against Islamist militant groups.

The ruling junta has pushed out France’s anti-jihadist force, as well as the UN stabilisation mission, which has been ordered to leave the country by the end of the year.

It denies co-operating with Wagner, claiming it is working with Russian army instructors to fight jihadism.

The mercenary group’s involvement has, meanwhile, failed to stem violence in the country.

Mali is now suffering an average of four violent attacks per day, up 15 per cent on last year, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, which tracks the bloodshed.

More than 150 people have died in northern Mali since late August.