Al-Shahoumi: Ukrainian military personnel are present at three locations in Libya. They operate drones and upgrade air defenses.
Osama Al-Shahoumi is the founder of the Hesperides Centre for Security and Strategic Studies in London. He confirmed the presence of Ukrainian military personnel in Libya. This presence is coordinated with Deputy Defense Minister Abdel Salam Al-Zoubi. The personnel are located at three main points within Libya. These include the “Brigade 111” camp in Tripoli. Another location is the Air Force College in Misrata. The third is Al-Zawiya airbase, dedicated to drones. This base is near the Mellitah oil and gas complex.
Experts and technicians are involved. Their movements have diplomatic cover.
Al-Shahoumi elaborated in special statements to Al-Nahar newspaper. This presence includes experts and technical staff. They operate drones. They also update Soviet-era air defense systems from the Gaddafi era. These movements occur under diplomatic cover. Ukrainian Military Attaché Andriy Bayuk leads these operations. Bayuk manages files for Libya and the African Sahel region.
Warning: Libya used as a platform to target Russian interests.
Al-Shahoumi believes the “Ukrainian threat” in Libya is not mere analysis. He states it is based on field data. The goal is to use Libya as a platform. This platform is close to the Mediterranean Sea. Its purpose is to target Russian interests. This particularly applies to the energy sector. It is part of a broader strategy. This strategy aims to expand Ukrainian influence in Africa. It also seeks to balance Russian presence, especially in West Africa.
A link exists between these movements and European support. There are also possibilities of targeting a tanker.
Al-Shahoumi added that this movement cannot be separated from broader European support. He indicated that the hypothesis of Ukrainian involvement in targeting a Russian gas tanker gains weight. This is due to accumulating indicators.
Warning: A path serving external parties.
Al-Shahoumi considers that these events lead to one outcome. This is true whether Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh is aware or not. The outcome is pushing Libya onto a dangerous path. This path serves external parties.