Media: Investigation claims Ukraine established military presence in Libya

A French investigative report by RFI has alleged that Ukraine has established links with Libya’s Tripoli-based authorities and set up operations in the country that may pose a threat to Russian maritime traffic in the Mediterranean Sea en route to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.

According to two Libyan sources cited in the report, the deployment of Ukrainian personnel was coordinated with the government led by Abdelhamid Dbeibah, Delfi reports.

“Following approval from Dbeibah’s government, more than 200 Ukrainian officers and specialists have been deployed in Libya,” one source said, adding that they are operating across three main sites, including the Misrata air base in Misrata.

The Ukrainian contingent is reportedly distributed across three locations. The first is Misrata air base, which also hosts AFRICOM forces, along with Turkish and Italian units, as well as British intelligence personnel.

The second site is located in the Melita area, about 50 kilometres from the capital Tripoli. It is said to include infrastructure for launching both aerial and naval drones.

“A fully equipped drone launch base is operating in the Melita area. All works were completed in the autumn of 2025,” the source added.

The third site is reportedly used to coordinate activities between Ukrainian specialists and western Libyan military units at the 111th Brigade base near Tripoli International Airport.

The report states that the Ukrainian presence in Libya followed an agreement signed in October 2025, initiated by Ukraine’s military attaché in Algeria, Major General Andrii Bayuk, under which Ukraine would train Libyan personnel and supply unmanned systems.

The RFI investigation also cites claims that Ukrainian forces have already carried out operations against Russian vessels in the Mediterranean.

On March 4, the liquefied gas tanker Arctic Metagaz was reportedly targeted while sailing towards Port Said in Port Said. The vessel was allegedly struck by a maritime drone, causing flooding in the engine room and forcing it to halt.

“The Arctic Metagaz was hit by a Magura V5 naval drone launched from the Melita area. Its engine room was flooded, bringing the ship to a stop,” the source said.

A similar incident is said to have occurred on December 19, 2025, when a Russian tanker named Qendil was allegedly struck by a naval drone launched from Misrata, while located approximately 250 kilometres off the Libyan coast.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), according to a source cited in the report, is linked to the operation.

In October 2025, Russia accused Dbeibah’s government of cooperating with British special services and supporting Ukrainian structures. Within Libya, several political figures have also expressed concern over the growing presence of foreign military forces.

“Many view this as a threat to national sovereignty and a new focal point of geopolitical confrontation,” the RFI report concluded.