Shadow War Between Ukraine and Russia Continues in Libya, Reports RFI

According to RFI, the deployment of Ukrainian forces comes in the wake of Russia accusing Ukraine of an attack on the Russian tanker Arctic Metagaz, which fell victim to "sudden explosions followed by a massive fire" off the coast of Libya on March 3. This incident has intensified the scrutiny on the ongoing military activities of both nations in the region.

RFI's sources indicate that hundreds of Ukrainian military personnel are currently stationed in Libya, with their presence confirmed by "highly reliable" sources from within the country. These Ukrainian forces are reportedly based in several locations and are collaborating closely with the government in Tripoli. They have also been implicated in the strike against Arctic Metagaz using maritime drones, showcasing a significant escalation in military engagement.

The Kyiv Independent has reached out to the Ukrainian government for comments regarding these allegations but has yet to receive a response. According to RFI sources, around 200 Ukrainian officers and other experts are currently in Libya. They are stationed at the Air Force Academy in the northwestern city of Misrata, where they share the facility with personnel from the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and a British intelligence center.

Additionally, Ukrainian troops are said to have access to a launch site for aerial and maritime drones near the Mellitah Oil and Gas complex, one of the largest energy facilities in the country. Libyan and Ukrainian forces are also reported to be cooperating at the headquarters of the 111th Brigade of the Libyan Army, located on the route to Tripoli's airport.

The presence of Ukrainian military personnel in Libya traces back to an agreement signed between Kyiv and Tripoli in October 2025, as reported by RFI sources. Under this agreement, Ukraine committed to providing training in drone operations, investing in Libya's oil sector, and promising future arms sales in exchange for the deployment of its troops in Libya.

Neither Libyan nor Ukrainian officials have publicly confirmed this agreement, and the Kyiv Independent has been unable to verify RFI's reporting at the time of publication. Meanwhile, Moscow maintains a military presence in Libya through the African Corps—a paramilitary group controlled by the Russian Ministry of Defense. This corps was established as part of a broader Kremlin strategy to centralize control over foreign military operations previously conducted by the Wagner Group.

Forces belonging to the Russian African Corps are reportedly operating in southern and eastern Libya in collaboration with General Khalifa Haftar, the de facto military dictator of eastern Libya, who opposes the internationally recognized government in Tripoli. In October 2025, Moscow accused Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh of supporting "Ukrainian groups" in coordination with British intelligence.

The attack on Arctic Metagaz has sparked further outrage in the Kremlin. The Russian tanker, which was transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG), caught fire in the Mediterranean Sea, with its crew successfully evacuated by a rescue boat in Libya's search and rescue zone. The vessel belongs to a shadow fleet of Russia, comprising ships that utilize opaque ownership, convenient flags, and irregular shipping practices to transport Russian oil despite Western sanctions.

Sources informed RFI that the tanker was struck by the Ukrainian maritime drone Magura V5, launched from a base in Mellitah. Previously, in December 2025, Kyiv had carried out its first strike against a Russian tanker in the Mediterranean. A source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) revealed to the Kyiv Independent that the shadow fleet vessel QENDIL was struck in neutral waters more than 2,000 kilometers from Ukraine. RFI reported that the attack was executed from Misrata, with QENDIL being hit 250 kilometers off the Libyan coast.