RFI INVESTIGATION

Ukrainian forces operating in western Libya as covert war grows

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.


Issued on: 06/04/2026 - RFI

An aerial photo taken on 15 March, 2026 shows the wreck of Russian liquified natural gas carrier Arctic Metagaz, which is adrift between Malta and Lampedusa after being hit by what RFI sources say was a Ukrainian drone. AFP - MIGUELA XUEREB

On 4 March, Moscow accused Ukraine, with support from British intelligence, of attacking the Russian tanker Arctic Metagaz from the Libyan coast.

The vessel is part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet”, used to bypass US and European sanctions imposed in December 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February that year.

The ship was sailing through the Mediterranean towards Port Said in Egypt, transporting liquefied natural gas.

On Thursday, Libya’s Ports and Maritime Transport Authority warned that the wreck of the Arctic Metagaz is adrift and out of control.

RFI can confirm that Ukrainian forces carried out the attack and have an active presence in western Libya.

Ukrainian presence

More than 200 Ukrainian officers and military experts are deployed in Libya, according to two Libyan sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.

They have the agreement of the Tripoli-based government led by Abdelhamid Dbeibah, which is recognised by the United Nations.

The personnel are based at three sites. One is the air force academy in Misrata – a large facility that also hosts Turkish and Italian forces and the United States Africa Command. A British intelligence centre is also located there.

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.

Ukrainian personnel also occupy a coastal site granted by the Tripoli authorities. Construction work in October and November last year strengthened defences and installed runways and antenna systems.

Training and deals

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.

Western Libyan forces are represented by Abdul Salam al-Zoubi, undersecretary at the Ministry of Defence.

The deployment follows an agreement signed in October between Tripoli and a Ukrainian military adviser, at the request of Ukraine’s military attaché in Algiers, General Andriy Bayouk, RFI’s sources said.

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’s oil sector.

Oil revenues for 2025 reached $21.9 billion, a 15 percent increase compared to 2024, the Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC) said.

Ukrainian authorities did not respond to RFI’s requests for comment. The Dbeibah government has also remained silent after questions from the Libyan parliament based in Benghazi.

Drone strike

In October 2025, Moscow accused Dbeibah of supporting “Ukrainian groups” and granting them “logistical facilities”, with “direct support” from British intelligence, Libyan media reported.

Military analysts said the available evidence suggests the Arctic Metagaz was most likely struck by a naval drone.

RFI’s 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.

The drone was launched from the Mellitah base and struck the engine room, causing rapid flooding and disabling the ship, the sources said.

Fears of a proxy conflict

The incident has raised concerns in Libya about violations of sovereignty and the presence of foreign forces.

Some political figures said the situation amounts to a proxy war between Moscow and Kyiv, extending to Libyan territory and waters.

The 4 March attack was not the first such incident. On 19 December 2025, a source within Ukraine’s security services said it had struck a Russian “shadow fleet” oil tanker in “neutral waters” in the Mediterranean.

The tanker Qendil was sailing between Greece and Libya, about 250 kilometres off the Libyan coast, when it was hit.

According to RFI’s information, the drone used was launched from Misrata, although the Ukrainian statement gave no details of the launch point or country of origin.

Kyiv released a short video showing the vessel on fire.

At the time, the strike was described as unprecedented in the Mediterranean, although Ukrainian forces had previously used maritime drones in the Black Sea.

This article was adapted from the original in French by Houda Ibrahim