Exclusive: Ukrainian Drone Unit Deployed in Libya Under Western-Backed Deal, Strikes Russian Tanker

Ukrainian Operatives in Libya Target Russian 'Shadow Fleet' Tanker

CAIRO (AP) — Ukrainian military personnel, including drone warfare experts, are operating from bases in western Libya under a clandestine arrangement tacitly approved by Western powers, two senior Libyan officials told The Associated Press. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, disclosed that operatives used Libyan territory to strike a Russian-flagged liquefied natural gas tanker in the Mediterranean Sea last month.

The attack on the Arctic Metagaz marks a significant geographical expansion of Ukraine's naval drone campaign beyond the Black Sea. The vessel, carrying 61,000 tons of LNG, was crippled by suspected sea drones near Maltese waters on March 3. It has since drifted toward the Libyan coast. All 30 crew members were rescued and transported to Benghazi, according to the Libyan Maritime Authority.

The tanker is part of Russia's so-called "shadow fleet," vessels used to circumvent international sanctions imposed over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Revenue from such oil and gas shipments is viewed by Kyiv as directly financing the war effort. A recent, temporary U.S. waiver on some sanctions was aimed at mitigating global supply disruptions, but has drawn criticism for potentially easing pressure on Moscow.

"The March 3 strike was launched by a Ukrainian team operating from a facility in Tripoli," one of the officials stated. The operatives are primarily based at an airfield in Misrata, with additional presences in Tripoli and Zawiya, as part of what was described as a "covert deal" with the Tripoli-based administration of Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah.

Libya, fractured since the 2011 overthrow of Moammar Gadhafi, remains divided between the U.N.-recognized Government of National Unity in Tripoli and a rival administration in the east backed by military commander Khalifa Hifter, who enjoys Russian support. The officials indicated the Ukrainian deployment is backed by Western nations, including the U.S., and is intertwined with a proposed political roadmap drafted by U.S. Special Envoy for African Affairs Massad Boulos. The plan reportedly aims to resolve the stalemate by retaining Dbeibah as prime minister while appointing Saddam Hifter, Khalifa's son and a key eastern military figure, to lead a presidential council.

"This is NATO's long game in action," said Jalel Harchaoui, a Libya specialist at the Royal United Services Institute. "For years, the strategic objective has been to keep western Libya out of Russia's sphere. The presence of Ukrainian units, with the knowledge of key NATO members, operationalizes that policy on the ground."

The damaged Arctic Metagaz initially reported sunk, remained afloat but adrift. Libyan authorities' attempts to tow it to a safe zone have been thwarted by severe weather. The incident underscores how Libya's instability and strategic location have made it a proxy theater for wider international conflicts, complicating European security and migration challenges.

Reaction & Analysis

Mark Thorne, Security Analyst (London): "This is a calculated, high-risk escalation by Kyiv. Projecting force into the Mediterranean directly challenges Russian maritime logistics and signals to the Kremlin that no domain is safe. The Western backing is clear, turning Libya into another front in the sanctions enforcement war."

Anya Petrova, Energy Markets Correspondent (Riga): "The attack on an LNG carrier, not just an oil tanker, is a new threshold. It targets a higher-value commodity and risks spooking global energy markets. While the immediate supply impact is limited, it introduces a new volatility factor for shipping in the region."

David K. Miller, Former Diplomat (Washington D.C.): "The administration is playing with fire. We're essentially subcontracting a European war to a fractured North African state. This 'covert deal' entangles us deeper in Libya's civil conflict, empowers militias, and risks a direct confrontation with Russian proxies on a new battlefield. It's a shortsighted, dangerous gamble."

Layla Al-Mansouri, Political Commentator (Tunis): "Libyans are exhausted being a pawn for foreign powers. First it was the UAE, Turkey, and Russia. Now Ukrainian soldiers are here under Western cover? This isn't a path to peace—it's a recipe for perpetual war on our soil. The proposed political deal just institutionalizes the division between east and west."

Neither Russian nor Ukrainian officials have publicly commented on the specific claims regarding Libyan operations. The Tripoli-based government did not immediately respond to an AP request for comment.

Associated Press writer Barry Hatton in Lisbon contributed to this report.