Russia's Africa Corps paramilitary unit had to withdraw from the northern town of Kidal after coordinated attacks by rebels and jihadists on strategic positions that had been held by the Moscow-backed ruling junta.

The country's defence minister was killed and the presidential palace targeted in what Moscow called an attempted coup.

"We consider it important that the country return to a peaceful, stable course, as soon as possible," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked about the situation in the country.

He refused to answer a question about whether the Africa Corps would be able to bring the situation under control.

In a separate statement, Russia's defence ministry said later of the rebels: "The enemy has not abandoned its aggressive intentions and is regrouping. The situation in the Republic of Mali remains difficult."

Africa Corps units "continue to carry out their assigned missions and remain prepared to repel attacks by militants, conducting active reconnaissance and destroying... detected targets", it added.

Russia's deputy foreign minister Georgy Borisenko said Tuesday that Russian troops had "suffered casualties" in "strikes on many parts of the country", state media reported.

Mali's military ruler General Assimi Goita, who led the coup in 2020 that brought the junta to power, has not been seen or spoken publicly since fighting began at the weekend.

Asked whether the Kremlin was aware of Goita's fate or whereabouts, Peskov said: "You need to search for that information in Mali, not in the Kremlin."

Russia's defence ministry said the fighting had seen "attempts made to seize key facilities in the capital, Bamako -- first and foremost, the presidential palace".

It said the Africa Corps had faced "numerically superior forces" and had fought for more than 24 hours before withdrawing from Kidal -- a decision taken by Malian leaders.

Analysts said the latest attacks were the most serious challenge to the Malian state since a March 2012 offensive that was repelled by forces from former colonial ruler France, which have since left the vast Sahel country.