Blundering UK officials accidentally sent top secret info to Russia ally

28 July 2023 , 09:12

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Emails were accidentally sent to Mali - which is an ally of Vladimir Putin (Image: SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images)

Blundering Government officials accidentally sent classified emails to a close ally of Russia, it has emerged.

A probe is underway at the Ministry of Defence after a typing error meant a "small number" of emails were sent to Mali - which is closely aligned with the Kremlin.

The MOD confirmed it is investigating, and said it is "confident" the emails didn't include anything that could compromise security operations.

British officials sent the messages to an address ending with the west African country's .ml domain - rather than the US military's .mil.

But they can take comfort in the fact American officials have made the same mistake - previously admitting sending "millions" of military emails to Mali.

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An MoD spokesman said: "We have opened an investigation after a small number of emails were mistakenly forwarded to an incorrect email domain.

"We are confident they did not contain any information that could compromise operational security or technical data.

"All sensitive information is shared on systems designed to minimise the risk of misdirection.

"The MoD constantly reviews its processes and is currently undertaking a programme of work to improve information management, data loss prevention, and the control of sensitive information."

Mali was among the six African countries promised free grain shipments by Russian President Vladimir Putin after the collapse of the Black Sea deal with Ukraine.

Moscow's Wagner mercenaries have also been deployed in Mali to fight alongside the army against jihadists.

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Dave Burke