Quick Read
- RFI investigation alleges over 200 Ukrainian military specialists are present in Libya.
- These specialists are reportedly based at multiple locations, including drone operation facilities.
- The report links Ukrainian forces to the March 4 drone attack on the Russian gas tanker “Arctic Metagaz.”
MISURATA (Azat TV) – A new investigation by French media outlet RFI has alleged the presence of over 200 Ukrainian military specialists in Libya, with sources suggesting their potential involvement in a recent drone attack on the Russian gas tanker “Arctic Metagaz.” The report, citing two anonymous Libyan sources, indicates that these Ukrainian personnel are stationed at multiple bases across the country, including the Air Force Academy in Misurata and a facility in the port city of Ez-Zawia, approximately 50 kilometers north of Tripoli.
Ukrainian Military Presence in Libya
According to RFI’s findings, a significant contingent of Ukrainian officers and specialists, numbering over 200, are reportedly operating within Libya. One of their primary bases is situated at the Air Force Academy in Misurata, a strategically important location that also hosts Turkish, Italian, and U.S. Africa Command forces. A second, fully equipped base for launching air and sea drones, is said to be located in the coastal city of Ez-Zawia. This base, reportedly granted by the Tripoli-based government led by Abdelhamid Dbeibah, provides direct sea access for the Ukrainian specialists.
Drone Operations and Training Agreements
The RFI report details that the Ez-Zawia facility has been enhanced with takeoff and landing infrastructure, suggesting advanced operational capabilities. The agreement that facilitated this Ukrainian military presence was reportedly brokered following a request from the Ukrainian military attaché in Algiers, General Andriy Bayuk. In exchange for hosting these specialists, Libya has allegedly received training from Ukrainian experts, particularly in the operation of drones. The long-term implications of this arrangement remain unclear, but it points to a deepening security cooperation between Ukraine and the Libyan government.
Attack on the “Arctic Metagaz”
The investigation further links these Ukrainian operations to the March 4, 2026, attack on the Russian gas tanker “Arctic Metagaz.” Moscow has accused Ukraine and British special services of orchestrating the strike from the Libyan coast. The “Arctic Metagaz,” part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” was carrying liquefied natural gas and was en route to Port Said, Egypt, when it was targeted. The tanker subsequently sank in the Mediterranean Sea, raising concerns about potential environmental catastrophe and an ecological disaster due to its cargo.
Official Silence and Environmental Concerns
RFI stated that it sought comments from both Ukraine and the Dbeibah government regarding the investigation’s findings but received no response. The incident has amplified existing tensions and accusations between Russia and Ukraine, with Moscow holding Kyiv responsible for the attack. The sinking of the “Arctic Metagaz” in Libyan waters has also triggered alarm among environmentalists, who fear the potential for a major oil spill and its devastating consequences on the marine ecosystem.
The RFI investigation highlights a significant escalation in the covert activities and proxy engagements of the ongoing conflict, suggesting that Ukrainian military operations may be extending into new geographical theaters with complex geopolitical implications.