Bulgarian Journalist Denies Reports of GRU General's Death
Bulgarian investigative journalist Christo Grozev has refuted claims made by French radio RFI regarding the death of GRU General Andrei Averyanov due to an attack by Ukrainian forces from bases in Libya.
On Friday, April 3rd, Bulgarian investigative journalist Christo Grozev publicly denied the information disseminated by French radio RFI about the alleged death of GRU General Andrei Averyanov, asserting that the reports were 'completely fake.'
Grozev took to social media platform X to clarify that General Averyanov, who was cited by RFI, is indeed alive. '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. He emphasized that he possesses video evidence confirming that the general continues to fulfill his duties, including managing GRU operations across Africa, Europe, and America.
On April 3rd, French radio RFI, citing 'informed Libyan sources,' reported that Libya had entered into an agreement with Ukraine to station 200 Ukrainian military personnel at three locations within its territory. In exchange, Ukraine would provide training in drone operations and investments. This information sparked significant interest as it suggested active military cooperation between Ukraine and Libya.
According to RFI's sources, Ukrainian forces launched attacks from Libyan bases on two Russian shadow fleet vessels, including the tanker QENDIL, which was struck on December 19th. As a result of this attack, the radio claimed that General Averyanov was killed. Additionally, investigations indicated that Ukraine was allegedly behind the strike on the Russian gas carrier Arctic Metagaz, which was transporting liquefied natural gas. The Russian Ministry of Transport accused Ukraine of the attack, asserting that the tanker was hit by Ukrainian maritime drones.
Furthermore, on April 2nd, Libya's Ports and Maritime Transport Authority reported that a damaged drifting tanker could not be towed to a local port. This situation raised concerns among international observers, as it could indicate an escalation of conflict in the region and pose threats to maritime security.
Thus, the information regarding General Averyanov's death, circulated by French radio, has been debunked. However, it underscores the complex situation in Libya and the active involvement of Ukrainian military forces in the region. These events could have serious implications for international relations and security in the Mediterranean region.