A senior Russian military officer, Vladimir Vinokurov, has stated that Ukrainian military intelligence is focusing on gathering information about the composition and movements of the African Corps in Libya and the Central African Republic. Vinokurov, who is the head of the Military Analysis and Evaluation Center of the Russian General Staff, made these claims in a statement reported by the Russian news agency RIA Novosti on October 5, 2026.
According to Vinokurov, Ukrainian military intelligence has been conducting sabotage activities against Russia in Africa over the past few years, operating as an agent for Western intelligence. He noted that Ukrainian intelligence activities in the Sahel region and the Arab part of North Africa have been sustained between 2024 and 2026, focusing on several key areas, including gathering information on the African Corps' movements.
The African Corps, a Russian-backed military entity, has been operating in Libya and the Central African Republic. Vinokurov's claims suggest that Ukrainian intelligence is seeking to gather strategic information on the Corps' activities in these countries. This development highlights the expanding scope of the conflict in Ukraine, with intelligence operations now extending to Africa.
In related developments, a report by CNN in 2025 revealed that Ukrainian operatives had been deployed to northwest Libya since late 2025. The report stated that a military base in Misrata was being used as a launchpad for drones to attack Russian "ghost fleet" tankers in the region, in exchange for providing training to Libyan forces.
There have been previous incidents involving attacks on Russian vessels in Libyan waters. On March 3, 2026, a Russian gas tanker, the Arctic Methagaz, was hit by explosions and a major fire, resulting in parts of the vessel sinking approximately 130 nautical miles north of the Libyan port city of Sirte. All 30 crew members were rescued.
At the time of the tanker attack, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Ukraine of targeting the vessel using unmanned boats launched from Libyan shores. This incident and Vinokurov's recent claims suggest a heightened level of tension and military activity in the region, with Libya becoming a focal point in the broader conflict.
The situation in Libya and the wider Sahel region remains complex, with multiple actors vying for influence. The allegations made by Vinokurov and the reported activities of Ukrainian operatives in Libya underscore the international dimensions of the conflict and the involvement of various external powers.
Key points
- Ukrainian intelligence is gathering information on the African Corps' movements in Libya and the Central African Republic.
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Ukraine of targeting a Russian gas tanker in Libyan waters.
- Ukrainian operatives have been deployed to northwest Libya to launch drone attacks on Russian tankers.
