Following the first part of the investigation by RFI, which revealed the presence of Ukrainian forces in western Libya in agreement with the Dbeibah government in Tripoli, we continue to uncover further aspects of the confrontation between Kyiv and Moscow in Africa, specifically in Libya.
Ukrainian forces struck two Russian vessels belonging to the shadow fleet. A very high-ranking Russian official was aboard a Russian oil tanker and was reportedly killed.
According to our Libyan sources, around ten senior Russian intelligence officials, disguised as sailors, were aboard the tanker Qendil. "This is the best way for a Russian intelligence agent to travel," one of our sources commented.
The strike left two dead and seven wounded. General Andrey Averianov, a senior Russian intelligence official, was killed in the attack, according to our Libyan sources.
This general was among the favorites to take over Wagner, now rebranded as the Africa Corps. He had extensive knowledge of Africa, having completed several tours on the continent. Notably, he traveled to Benghazi in eastern Libya, where he met with Marshal Khalifa Haftar.
This marks a severe blow to Russia, where news of his death has not circulated. Moscow has neither officially confirmed nor denied the casualty.
"Russian Revenge"?
Moscow promised a strong response to this operation. Less than a week later, on December 23, General Mohammed al-Haddad, the army chief of staff in western Libya and the highest-ranking military figure in Tripoli, was killed in Turkey. His plane, chartered from a private company based in Malta, crashed following an onboard explosion just minutes after taking off from Ankara. He was accompanied by his advisor Mohamed Diab, Ground Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General al-Fitouri Gribel, and Military Industrialization Department Director Brigadier General Mahmoud al-Qatawi. In total, seven people affiliated with the western Libyan army were killed.
Our Libyan sources are firmly convinced that this was a Russian response to the attack on the vessel Qendil. No official announcement was made following the analysis of the two black boxes. The conclusions of the investigation launched after the incident have not been disclosed by the Libyan prosecutor. While some in Libya have accused Turkey, several other analysts and political figures also suspect an act of "Russian revenge."
Ezzedine Akil, president of the Libyan Coalition Party, asked on his Facebook page: if the price for the initial strike on the Russian vessel in the Mediterranean was the death of General al-Haddad, what will be the cost of this latest incident?
An "act of sabotage" in response to the strike on a Russian gas carrier?
Another incident on March 19 raised questions in Tripoli: the National Oil Corporation announced the partial suspension of production at the Al-Sharara oil field, one of the largest in Libya, due to a massive fire that hit a pipeline carrying oil to the Zawiya refinery.
A week later, the Libyan Interior Ministry in Tripoli revealed the results of its investigation into this "act of sabotage." Russian munitions were found at the scene. According to a statement and photos published on the Facebook page of the ministry, the investigation led to the recovery of an unexploded Russian-made M-62 shell weighing approximately 250 kg, as well as fragments of an exploded 130mm missile. They had been placed along the route of the oil pipeline. The Libyan ministry remained factual and did not accuse any local or foreign party.
Production is expected to resume normally this week, according to two engineers working at the oil field who spoke to Reuters.
Last week, the Libyan Parliament demanded clarifications from the Tripoli government, calling on it to open an investigation into the incident involving the Russian gas carrier, as well as the pipeline attack. There has been no reaction from the Tripoli government.
Libyan Member of Parliament Miloud Lasouad reiterated the demand from the Parliament for swift investigations into these two incidents, condemning a proxy war in Libya.
In statements to RFI, he considered the recent attack on the Sharara pipeline in the Hamada oil field to be unprecedented, especially in its timing. "Everything suggests that it was perpetrated by non-Libyan actors," he stated. He added that, much like the attack targeting the Russian ship, it was "carried out by a different, non-Libyan party." Without naming these parties, he remained highly cautious when alluding to this war between Moscow and Kyiv.
"Since the beginning of the Libyan conflict in 2011, no party has deliberately targeted Libyan production infrastructure," Lasouad said. "The recent attack on the Al-Sharara pipeline in the Hamada field, especially with this precise timing, is unprecedented. Everything suggests it was perpetrated by non-Libyan actors. Similarly, the attack on the Russian ship was an act of sabotage, much like the bombing of the Hamada pipeline, and everything also indicates that another non-Libyan party is responsible, given the nature of the operation and its consequences."
"Regardless, we firmly oppose Libyan territory or Libyan waters serving as a theater for military operations, whatever the purpose," he continued. "We refuse to let Libya be dragged into a foreign conflict or war. Libya is not involved in the current events and already has enough internal problems to resolve. I call on the Libyan state and security services to open investigations into all these incidents to identify those responsible. The truth must be revealed. The Libyan officials dragging Libya into international struggles should be held accountable."