An investigation has unveiled Russia's swift amplification of its military footprint in Libya, stirring concern amidst escalated tensions with the West amid the Ukrainian conflict. Sources within Libyan security agencies and the Russian military, alongside outlets like Verstka, the All Eyes On Wagner Project, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, disclosed the deployment of over 1,800 Russian soldiers and mercenaries to Libya, with some redirected to Niger amidst burgeoning Moscow-Washington friction.
Since NATO-backed actions led to Muammar Qaddafi's removal in 2011, Russia's Wagner group has clandestinely operated in Libya, alleged by Washington to meddle in its conflicts. Following a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Libya's eastern military commander Khalifa Haftar in late September 2023, reports surfaced about a defense agreement paving the path for expanded Russian presence in eastern Libya, possibly culminating in a naval base. Former U.S. special envoy to Libya, Jonathan Winer, underscored the gravity of the situation, emphasizing the strategic imperative of keeping Russia away from the Mediterranean.
Hundreds of Russian special forces soldiers, accompanied by numerous mercenaries and regular troops, shifted from Ukraine to Libya earlier in the year. Since March, Russian military personnel and equipment have been observed in at least 10 eastern Libyan bases. A source from the Russian Ministry of Defense, cited by the All Eyes On Wagner Project, noted significant developments in Libya pre-dating Russia's Ukraine campaign, forecasting looming chaos.
Recent arrivals from Russia and Ukraine have engaged in targeted combat missions and the training of local forces and new Wagner Group recruits, the investigation uncovered.
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