Ukrainian Drone Attack on Russian Military: New Details from Expert
Military naval expert Vladimir Zablotsky shared insights on a Ukrainian drone strike that occurred from Libyan territory, revealing its actual targets and implications for Ukraine's military capabilities.
In a recent broadcast on Radio NV, military naval expert Defence Express Vladimir Zablotsky discussed a significant Ukrainian drone strike that took place from Libyan territory, shedding light on its true objectives. According to Zablotsky, this attack, which occurred in 2025, was not aimed at a tanker, as it might initially appear. Instead, he believes the target of the assault was a group of Russian military personnel returning from Africa to Novorossiysk, covering the former Wagner Group.
"This first incident, as you mentioned, in 2025, the drone targeting a tanker was not an attack on the tanker. In my opinion, it was an attack on a group of Russian [military] personnel covering the former Wagner Group, who were returning from Africa to Novorossiysk. A general was destroyed there. It was an aerial drone that hit the right place at the right time, and the tanker was not harmed," Zablotsky stated.
The expert also emphasized that if the information regarding this attack is accurate, it signifies Ukraine's growing agency and its defense forces on the international stage. This undoubtedly highlights the importance of Ukrainian drones in modern military conflicts.
On April 3, French radio RFI reported, citing informed Libyan sources, that an agreement had been reached between Libya and Ukraine, under which 200 Ukrainian military personnel would be stationed in Libya. In exchange, Ukraine would provide training in drone operations and investments. This agreement could represent a significant step in strengthening military cooperation between the two countries.
According to information obtained from Libyan sources, Ukrainian forces based in Libya conducted attacks on two Russian ships from a shadow fleet. Among these vessels was the tanker QENDIL, which was struck on December 19. RFI reported that as a result of this strike, GRU General Andrey Averyanov was killed. However, it should be noted that the Russian Ministry of Transport accused Ukraine of this attack, claiming that the tanker was hit by Ukrainian maritime drones.
On April 2, the Libyan Ports and Maritime Transport Authority announced that the damaged drifting tanker could not be towed to a local port, indicating the seriousness of the situation at sea.
However, on April 3, Bulgarian investigative journalist Christo Grozev refuted the information regarding Averyanov's elimination, labeling the story as "completely fake." "Averyanov is very much alive, and the only source of this false rumor is a discredited Telegram account that published it nearly three months ago," Grozev stated, emphasizing that he has video evidence confirming that the general is alive and continues to fulfill his duties, including overseeing GRU operations in Africa, Europe, and America.
This situation underscores the complexity and ambiguity of modern military conflicts, where information warfare and disinformation can significantly impact the perception of events. Russia's war against Ukraine continues to remain at the forefront of the international community's attention, and new details like these only emphasize the importance of monitoring and analyzing information from various sources.