\n Ukrainian military forces are operating in western Libya and were behind a recent attack on a Russian tanker in the Mediterranean, an RFI investigation has found. The findings point to a largely covert confrontation between Kyiv and Moscow as they compete for influence on Libyan territory, four years into their conflict. <\/p>\n
Issued on: 06\/04\/2026 – 08:03<\/p>\n
3 min Reading time\n<\/p>\n
On 4 March, Moscow accused Ukraine, with support from British intelligence, of attacking the Russian tanker Arctic Metagaz from the Libyan coast.<\/p>\n
The vessel is part of Russia\u2019s so-called \u201cshadow fleet<\/a>\u201d, used to bypass US and European sanctions imposed in December 2022 after Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine<\/a> on 24 February that year.<\/p>\n The ship was sailing through the Mediterranean towards Port Said in Egypt<\/a>, transporting liquefied natural gas.<\/p>\n On Thursday, Libya\u2019s Ports and Maritime Transport Authority warned that the wreck of the Arctic Metagaz is adrift and out of control.<\/p>\n RFI can confirm that Ukrainian forces carried out the attack and have an active presence in western Libya<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ukrainian presence <\/p>\n More than 200 Ukrainian officers and military experts are deployed in Libya, according to two Libyan sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.<\/p>\n They have the agreement of the Tripoli-based government led by Abdelhamid Dbeibah, which is recognised by the United Nations.<\/p>\n The personnel are based at three sites. One is the air force academy in Misrata<\/a> \u2013 a large facility that also hosts Turkish and Italian forces and the United States Africa Command. A British intelligence centre is also located there.<\/p>\n A second base is in Zawiya, about 50 kilometres north of Tripoli, near the Mellitah oil and gas complex. It is equipped to launch aerial and naval drones.<\/p>\n Ukrainian personnel also occupy a coastal site granted by the Tripoli<\/a> authorities. Construction work in October and November last year strengthened defences and installed runways and antenna systems.<\/p>\n Attacked Russian tanker drifting toward Libya: Italian authorities<\/a><\/p>\n Training and deals <\/p>\n A third location is used for coordination meetings between Ukrainian personnel and Libyan forces at the headquarters of the 111th Brigade on the road to Tripoli airport.<\/p>\n Western Libyan forces are represented by Abdul Salam al-Zoubi, undersecretary at the Ministry of Defence.<\/p>\n The deployment follows an agreement signed in October between Tripoli and a Ukrainian military adviser, at the request of Ukraine\u2019s military attach\u00e9 in Algiers, General Andriy Bayouk, RFI\u2019s sources said.<\/p>\n In return, Libyan forces receive training, including in the use of drones. The agreement also provides for future arms sales and Ukrainian investment in Libya\u2019s oil sector.<\/p>\n Oil revenues for 2025 reached $21.9 billion, a 15 percent increase compared to 2024, the Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC<\/a>) said.<\/p>\n Ukrainian authorities did not respond to RFI\u2019s requests for comment. The Dbeibah government has also remained silent after questions from the Libyan parliament based in Benghazi<\/a>.<\/p>\n Drone strike <\/p>\n In October 2025, Moscow accused Dbeibah of supporting \u201cUkrainian groups\u201d and granting them \u201clogistical facilities\u201d, with \u201cdirect support\u201d from British intelligence, Libyan media reported.<\/p>\n Military analysts said the available evidence suggests the Arctic Metagaz was most likely struck by a naval drone.<\/p>\n RFI\u2019s sources said the vessel was hit by an autonomous surface drone of the Magura V5 type, manufactured in Ukraine and previously used in the Black Sea.<\/p>\n The drone was launched from the Mellitah base and struck the engine room, causing rapid flooding and disabling the ship, the sources said.<\/p>\n Libya’s Al-Khadim airbase becomes a hub for Russian arms in the Sahel<\/a><\/p>\n Fears of a proxy conflict <\/p>\n The incident has raised concerns in Libya about violations of sovereignty and the presence of foreign forces.<\/p>\n Some political figures said the situation amounts to a proxy war between Moscow and Kyiv, extending to Libyan territory and waters.<\/p>\n The 4 March attack was not the first such incident. On 19 December 2025, a source within Ukraine\u2019s security services said it had struck a Russian \u201cshadow fleet\u201d<\/a> oil tanker in \u201cneutral waters\u201d in the Mediterranean.<\/p>\n The tanker Qendil was sailing between Greece and Libya, about 250 kilometres off the Libyan coast, when it was hit.<\/p>\n According to RFI\u2019s information, the drone used was launched from Misrata, although the Ukrainian statement gave no details of the launch point or country of origin.<\/p>\n Kyiv released a short video showing the vessel on fire.<\/p>\n At the time, the strike was described as unprecedented in the Mediterranean, although Ukrainian forces had previously used maritime drones in the Black Sea.<\/p>\n