Russian Mercenaries Act as ‘Force Multiplier’ in Libya, UN Says
- New report cites role of as many as 1,200 Russian forces
- Libya has been torn by fighting since Qaddafi’s 2011 killing
Supporters of Khalika Haftar wave a national during a demonstration in Libya.
Photographer: ABDULLAH DOMA/AFP via Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Russian operatives are engaged in a large-scale effort in Libya to bolster eastern commander Khalifa Haftar through a mix of technical support, direct involvement in combat operations and sophisticated influence campaigns, according to United Nations experts.
About 800 to 1,200 mercenaries from the Wagner group -- headed by a confidant of President Vladimir Putin -- have been actively operating in Libya since 2018, including at least 39 Russian snipers on the front lines, the UN experts monitoring sanctions on the North African country wrote in their first extensive report on mercenaries, which was viewed by Bloomberg.