Russian troops in Libya. Does Russia plan to military base in Libya? "SP": - For this, apparently, you need a new "Gaddafi" ...

Commander of the National Army of Libya Khalifa Haftar during his visit to Moscow Photo: EPA / UPG

New reports on contacts between the Military Command of Libya and representatives of Russia may indicate possible plans of the Russian Federation to start a military campaign in Libya. Moscow is clearly not refused to strengthen its position in North Africa, especially since requests for help from Libya come. This state can become another zone of conflict, because of which the West will be forced to sit at the table of negotiations with Russia.

New Russian assistance

For the first time, rumors about the possible invasion of Russia in Libya appeared in the summer of 2016. The other day the next message appeared, which may indicate the beginning of the new operation of the Russian Federation. On January 11, the Russian military delegation arrived at the Libyan Port Tobruk to meet with Marshal Caliph Hattar, the commander-in-chief of the so-called Libyan National Army and the President of the House of Representatives of Libya Agilas Saleh. The Russians were sailed at the admiral Kuznetsov cruiser, who returned after participating in the Syrian campaign to the place of permanent deployment (Severomorsk, Russia). This is symbolic, because without comparison with Syria, it is impossible to estimate the potential operation of Russia in Libya. Haftar meetings with Russian military and video conferencing with the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Sergey Shoigu took place just aboard the aircraft carrier.

At the end of November, during the second visit, Haftar met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow and asked for support for the Libyan Army. Lavrov noted the role of the Libyan Military in the fight against terrorism and the support of Libya's independence. During the visit, Haftar also had a meeting also with Shoigu and the head of the Security Council Nikolai Patrushev. As sources close to Haftar reported, and earlier, the Libyan Marshal tried to convince Moscow to cancel the Embargo of the UN Security Council on the supply of weapons to Libya (Russia joined this decision) or put weapons and techniques through a third party. And even - to start a military operation in the Libyan territory, directed against the militants-Islamists. Its operation in Syria, how many times said Moscow, the Russian Federation began at the request of the Syrian President Bashar Assad.

As follows from the recent statement by the Deputy Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Gennady Gatilova, Bloomberg, Russia still perceives the idea of \u200b\u200bcanceling the embargo, since it doubts the ability of the Libyan authorities to control their preservation in the conditions of military-political instability in this North African country.

And the authorities, good and different, in Libya is plenty. In addition to those sitting in Tobruk, there is a government of national consent in Tripoli, formed from the temperate invisi forces and representatives of secular political flows. The process of its creation was launched at the UN initiative in December 2015 in the Moroccan city of Schirate and ended in March 2016. You can not say that this project was successful - the contradictions torn down, the government is still trying to prove its legitimacy.

In addition, in Tripoli, there is still an unrecognized Moderate Islamist government of national salvation, led by the "Prime Minister" by Khalifa Govel, who does not want to diverge after the formation of the government of Natsagraism and periodically declaring the seizure of administrative buildings. Haftar and the Allied Parliament also actually are illegal power, because they did not want to fold the authority after agreement in Morocco. Although before signing it, the parliament in Tobruk, elected in 2014, was recognized by the world community. Haftar's forces now control the greatest part of Libya. UN accuses military haftar in torture and illegal murders.

The inability to form a unified central government naturally prevents Libyan authorities to begin a joint struggle against radical Islamists who are the main problem of the country. Russia, the words of the same Gatilov, stands for an equal dialogue of legal governments in Tripoli with socio-political movements, tribal groups and national minorities (except for recognized and self-proclaimed governments, in Libya Mass of groups of army units and tribal groups controlling individual areas of the country, like Berber And Tuaregs), which it is still not leading. Unlike Syria, in Libya, Moscow does not defend firm interests of one side of the conflict, formally speaking for the Dialogue of Tripoli with Tobruk and noting the efforts of two capitals to combat terrorists. But her sympathy is really on the side of Haftar Caliphs.

"Haftar is definitely the leading political and military figure, "said American journalists Gatilov. - We believe that Libians need to be compromised by his participation in the New Libyan Guide. "

On the side of Haftar also UAE and Egypt. His rivals - Qatar, Turkey and the West. As the "apostleph" director of the Institute of Oriental Studies. A. E. Crimean National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Alexander Bogomolov, the trend is really noticeable: both Haftar and official Cairo come close to Russia.

What is the interest

As in the case of Syria, Moscow regularly indicates the errors of the West in Libya, calling the 2011 Western Coalition operation, led to the overthrow and murder of Muammar Gaddafi, illegal (justice, she really turned out to be failed and led to one of the most obvious US failures, Britain and France in the Middle East). Khalifa Haftar was once a supporter of Gaddafi, but then she climbed himself with him and moved to the USA - he, in Libya, is undoubtedly the old guard.

As Voice of America said Specialist in the Middle East and North Africa from the London Eurasia Group Eurasia Group Ricardo Fabiani, Haftar for Moscow - "Perfect Mediator". Just because it wants to restore the "old order". This is another parallel with Syria, where Russians support Bashar Assad regimen. Russia's decision to support Haftar will create the potential of the new sphere of rivalry with the West. And if it will be possible to spread its influence on the whole country, take a political position and thus increase its significance in the region, it could become a real success of the Kremlin. But while Donald Trump did not take care of the President of the US President, Russia remains to wait to understand what "new rules of the game in Libya".

One of the aspects why Russia needs to be influenced in Libya, the flow of migrants and refugees from all Africa, which flows through this country (at least this concerns the Libyans themselves). The Africans crossing the Mediterranean Sea fall into the countries of Southern Europe - primarily Italy and Greece. Migration flows, as we understand, have become Europe in the hands of Moscow. In this regard, Russia is suitable, perhaps, both an option with instability in Libya and the consolidation of a loyal man who can close the eyes to illegal migration from the Libyan coast. Gaddafi, by the way, was famous for the strict control of its borders and cruel spreads over the illegals.

Will Russia decides to surpass

So whether Moscow will decide on the "short and victorious" operation in Libya? This question is not yet any confident answer. Russia can really have motives for such an operation, but there are doubts that they are quite convincing. The Russian government was supposed to learn Syrian lessons in full - and they are extremely contradictory. On the one hand, after the Russian military crimes, the charges again fell out. On the other hand, the Kremlin, during the Syrian campaign, managed to achieve noticeable success, defending the regime of Bashar Assad. Although the capture of Aleppo was part of the Assad priorities, but not Russia, seeking to return to the "Big Club".

"I would advise not to exaggerate the risk of direct Russian intervention," said Alexander Bogomolov. "But Russia, of course, will try to influence the situation, because he is trying to climb everywhere where there is such an opportunity, trying to become a player in the international arena, so that with it considered ". .

But to achieve peace in Libya - not in the field of the possibilities of Russia: "No external force is currently able to fully control Libya or radically change the situation there, because it is more dependent on the internal speaker. And the internal speaker is also not managed - it is rather chaotic, There are many centers of influence. "

The Russian military expert Paul Felgengauer also considers the likelihood of the Russian operation in Libya low, although Russian advisers in this country may appear as arms and supplies.

"Russia would like to achieve influence on the Grand Middle East. So in a sense, the presence is useful there and may even appear. But there are no resources for one operation for another operation, so it is unlikely," Felgerueer said "Apostleph".

Alexander Golz, Military Observer and Commander of the Russian "Daily Journal", argues that Russia has no realistic goals in the Middle East, and calls it a game in geopolitics. If Moscow and will decide on the operation in Libya, it will be limited to air strikes, he expressed the opinion in the comments to our publication.

The director of the analytical group DA VINCI AG Anatoly Baronin told the Apostrofu, that the first harbingers of the Russian operation in this country appeared in the summer of last year - such conclusions could be made on the basis of joint Russian-Egyptian teachings and a number of visits of the Egyptian military command. Just after the teachings, Moscow then visited Haftar.

"the Russian FederationIn my opinion, two goals pursues: first, it is a demonstration of its strengthening in the region. The Kremlin seeks to demonstrate that it reaches the goals where Washington succeeds could not achieve. Although I think, in the Kremlin perfectly understood that even with the help of military intervention will not be able to stabilize the situation and establish an inter-barded dialogue in this country. Secondly, the goal is to obtain a controlled regime in North Africa with the placement of the military base in the Mediterranean region, "he tried to explain the motives of the Russian Federation Baronin. The probability of operation he estimated 50%.

Among the factors that affect the decision to carry out the operation, Baronin called the situation in the Sirta region, until the recently of the main city of the Islamic State in Libya, the readiness of Egypt to support the operation (the Russian Federation itself is almost certainly unable to conduct it efficiently), the reaction of the international community to support Moscow Tobruk and the effect of operation on the dynamics of oil prices. Given repeated mutual meetings, the analyst suggested that the basic details of the agreement between Tobruk and Moscow were not agreed yet.

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Russia continues to take comprehensive diplomatic, military and humanitarian efforts to normalize the situation in Libya. On the eve of a visit to Moscow, the commander of the Libyan National Army was visited Khalifa Haftar. He is called "New Gaddafi", assuming that only he can unite the country destroyed by the Civil War. In the meantime, Reuters extended the information that the Russian special forces was seen in Egypt, not far from Libya's border.

According to the agency, American intelligence noted military personnel, similar to Russian special forces, as well as drones at Sidi Barranian Air Base in a hundred kilometers from the Libyan border. At the same time, the Americans have complained that the Russian military often do not use a uniform that complicates their identification. In turn, the sources in the Egyptian security forces clarified that we are talking about 22 fighters of Russian special forces, which in early February used another Egyptian base - in the city of Mersa-Matruh.

The purpose of the transfer of Russian specialists to the Libyan border, in the opinion of American diplomats, may be the military-technical support for the forces of the Commander Hattar, who recently could not bring off the attack of Benghazi Defense Brigades on the oil ports controlled by it. Earlier, Moscow unequivocally made it clear about Haftar's support, inviting him on board the aviance cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, where a video conference with the Minister of Defense was organized by Libyans Sergey Shoigu.

The Council of Federation noted that the Kremlin did not apply for permission to introduce troops into Libya, as it was in the case of Syria. Senator Vladimir Dzhabarov Called the message Reuters "duck". According to another senator - Viktor LakesThe purpose of this information could be the desire of the United States to distract attention from "Washington's decision to send American special forces to Syria for the assault of Rakki." In the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, information about the Russian special forces in Egypt denied. In the Kremlin, excessive interference in Libya was called inappropriate. Meanwhile, it became known that Russia still promised Haftar military assistance.

Information about military preparations in Libya was published against the background of a diplomatic game, which Moscow leads. During yesterday's meeting in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mikhail Bogdanov Adopted not only the commander of the Khalifa Haftar, but also a personal representative of the Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies Akil Salehaas well as ambassador Libya in Russia Abdelbaset Badri. Moscow confirmed the intention to ensure the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Libya, for which it is planned to establish an "inclusive dialogue" with representatives of all the meaningful forces of this African country.

Note that the political and military opponent Hfthara - Phasis Saraj. Also in Moscow on a visit - back in early March. Earlier concerns about the participation of Russia in a political settlement, the Minister of Defense of Great Britain Michael Fallon. "We do not think that the beast grew up in their" zoo ", which can indicate a bear," the Shoigu replied to him.

In the Libya itself "The Hand of Moscow" is increasingly noticeable. Last week, the media reported on the participation of the "employees of the private military company RSB-Group" in demining the cement plant in Benghazi. On the eve of the head of the RSB-Group Oleg Kritsyn I confirmed this information, specifying the truth that the contract was concluded by the civil line. Nevertheless, the company's activity itself is demining, unequivocally indicates the nature of this structure affiliated with the military.

Expert RSMD and Institute of the Middle East Sergey Balmasov Recalls that at the first stage of the Syrian campaign, Moscow also did not confirm his military preparations:

- What is in Russia, in the Council, will deny everything - expected. Maybe they even have an installation - to say that they do not know anything. Remember, Syria: No one believed that Russia would enter the Middle East. Then, in August, in September, the first photos of our military in Tartus began to appear. The French published others too. And only then we began to confirm. It is reasonable. If some forces in Libya are tightened, why scream about it? Otherwise, the opponent is an example countermeasure.

"SP": - But the appearance of Haftara in Moscow is definitely not a fake ...

- It does not surprise. In early March, the Brigade of Protection Benghazi, having received the assistance of Algerian special services, the help of Saraj, the help of Turkey and Qatar, caused a serious countercourse with Haftar. They took two ports: Es-Cider and Ras-Lanuf and tried to take Advabia, although they were repulsed. Now Haftar requires reinforcement. He needs and weapons and fighters. Although Haftar is considered "Strongman," people have a good full-fledged division, but no more.

He announced mobilization, but it is not a fact that these people will be combed. But with a weapon, Haftar has no special problems. Libya weapon flooded. During the conflict of 2011, the French, the British, the Italians transferred there a mass of "trunks", and quite new ones. With which haftara is really tight, so it is with intelligence. Therefore, an unexpected blow to his ports was applied. His troops then were torn to other directions. So drones for him would not be superfluous.

The goal of Haftar is serious - in the near future to overthrow the governments of the Saraj and establish their power in Libya. In addition to Russia, it supports Egypt. Opponent Haftar - Saraj Moscow, apparently not impressed. In Bloomberg was an interview Gennady Gatilova (deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation - Avt.), where he directly called the Government of Saraj "Easy". He focuses few people and few people obey him.

"SP": - that is, Russia does not eliminate the conflict in Libya?

- Russia in Libya has serious interests. One of them is the return of more than a 2 billion contract, which lost Russian Railways. We are talking about the railway Sirt - Benghazi. In addition, Russia hopes for military contracts. After all, Libya is not Tajikistan. There are live money there. Despite the fall in volumes, exports of oil and gas from there continues.

"SP": - Are there any danger to get bogged in Libyan conflict?

- No one will give guarantees that Khaftar's pricorm will result. He has no living money. Rather, there will be a request for deliveries on credit. According to the Soviet experience, it is known that this is not the best way. There is still a factor of the West. We will counteract. The involvement in the conflict occurs gradually: first military materials, then advisors, then volunteers, etc. We were dragged into the Syrian conflict, they can draw in Libya. It should be understood that Libya split according to the historical principle. Should we try to actually sew it all this is the question.

"SP": - For this, apparently, you need a new "Gaddafi" ...

- Haftar is partly such and is. He is a former colonel of the army of Gaddafi, who fled after the defeat in Chad. Now he repeats the Gaddafi many of his own actions. He openly declared a single Libya.

Libya Expert, Lecturer HSE Gregory Lukyanov It believes that Khalifa Haftar at the moment has the strongest position in Libya and the bid of Moscow is justified for it.

- The situation inside Libya is such that the conflict that has distinguished in recent years on a constant transformation and now continues to change. In December 2015, a Schiharate agreement was concluded, which was the basis for the political settlement of the Libyan crisis. However, all the efforts of the UN and other intermediaries did not give. The government of the national unity of the platform for the negotiations of the two parliaments has not become, and has become one of the centers of power. The main concern was the fight against Igil * in the area of \u200b\u200bSirta. Now the city is released, although IHIL was completely destroyed to the end.

"SP": - What is the balance of forces in Libya now?

- At the end of 2016, the conflict moved to a new stage. All major configuring groups in Libya have a powerful military basis. Without it, it is impossible to be a political entity in Libya. At the former general, and now Marshal Khalifa Haftar has such a tool as the Libyan National Army. Today, this tool looks most attractive for a number of international intermediaries, including Russia, France, Italy. First of all, due to its irreconcilable position in relation to Islamism.

Haftar insists that the Islamists have no place in the future of the political space of New Libya. Moreover, this applies not only to ISIL, but also "Muslim Brothers" ** ( their positions are strong in the neighboring Egypt - auth.) and moderate Islamist groups, which relies the Government of the Saraj and who form the basis of another center of force - the Government of National Rescue in Tripoli led by Al-Gvella Khalifa. As a result, at the end of December - early January, the inability to negotiate led to the collision of the Libyan "Muslim Brothers" and the Army of Haftar. Then the fights stretched to the coastal zone where the main oil ports are located.

Under these conditions and the neighbors of Libya, and the countries of Southern Europe are interested in stabilizing the situation and withdrawing it into the political channel. However, these countries have no conditions for such negotiations in which Haftar would feel confident. Therefore, Libyan General appeals to Russia. Moreover, other political forces of Libya are also coming. One of the reasons is non-participation in Russia in the Libyan conflict. In addition, Russia's experience in Syria is perceived by them, and in the world too, very positive. Algeria and Tunisia and Egypt understand that Libya needs a strong leader capable of bringing order. Russia, which has resources and political will, just can provide support in this.

"SP": - What exactly do I need to Libyan grouping?

- They need financial support, weapons, ammunition, military equipment, as well as assistance in mastering it. They need military instructors who can also manage combat actions in the field. Such as Russian advisers in Syria. They need Russian support in the UN Security Council, since they first need to remove the embargo on the supply of weapons and military technologies to Libya. In order to increase the military power of the new legitimate force already officially. Let me remind you, in 2011, prohibiting military deliveries of UN Security Council resolution was adopted. She acts now.

So Russia has almost no competitors in Libya. France is in the election state. Italians are perceived as former colonizers. The part of the elite, which was all these years in political emigration, is also watching Moscow. This is the part of the Libyan business that did not participate in the Civil War and managed to take out its capital and place them in reliable countries. They are interested in returning to the country and restore it. Therefore, what Russia did in Syria seems more than acceptable and in demand in their own country. Although Khalifa Haftar is not indisputable figure. In addition, he is not young. Russia first is necessary to look at those who are behind him.

* The Islamic State is prohibited in Russia, as a terrorist organization on December 29, 2014.

** "Muslim Brotherhood" (Al-Miavan Al-Muslimun), the organization is prohibited in the territory of Russia as extremist 14.02.2003.

With reference to the anonymous American and Egyptian military-diplomatic sources, said that Russia allegedly placed military specialists and drones at the air base in Egypt near the Libyan border. In this case, no confirmation of information has led the agency. Egyptian military officially categorically denied this data.

According to American government and diplomatic sources of Reiter, "the placement of the military can be part of the attempt to support the commander of the Libyan Army Haftar.

Anonymous sources say that "the United States has noticed something that it is likely to be Russian troops and drones" in Sidi-Barranran in approximately 100 kilometers from the Libyan border. Egyptian sources reported to the agency that 22 military arrived on the base.

The Egyptian army denies the presence of Russian servicemen. "On the territory of Egypt there are no foreign military from any country. This is a question of sovereignty," the Agency of the word of the representative of the army of Tamere Al-Rifai leads.

The agency also notes that he could not independently confirm the presence of Russian military, drones or aircraft in Egypt.

The first deputy chairman of the Committee of the Federation Council on International Affairs, Vladimir Dzhabarov, commenting on media reports, called them fake and noticed that they did not cost attention, and the head of the Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security Committee, Victor Ozers, found them to continue the anti-Russian rhetoric.

Previously, the Reuters already performed with similar materials on the "Russian military presence in Libya". Last week, there was information that several dozen employees of the Russian private military company RSB-Group were deminiced the industrial object in Benghazi. However, it turned out later that the agency issued specialists from a commercial company for "mercenaries". The official representative of the Libyan Army Colonel Ahmed Al-Missari clarified RIA Novosti that it was about a cement plant in this city.

In turn, the owner of the RSB-Group Oleg Kritsyn explained RIA Novosti that the company was not military - its specialists really cleaned an important enterprise in Libya, but the contract was concluded by the civil line.

Reports of anonymous sources Reuters appeared against the background of statements by the American and British military departments that last weeks They began to actively express anxiety in connection with the contacts of representatives of Russia and Libya. In particular, on March 9, the Pentagon officials on the hearings in the US Senate said this. Earlier, the Minister of Defense of Britain Michael Fallon stated that the West was not satisfied with the contacts of the Russian Federation with Libya. According to the British Minister, Moscow, contacting the commander of the National Army of Libya Khalifa Hattar, "checks the West for strength, checks the alliance." Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, in turn, later commented on the statement of the British colleague that the West does not want the "Bear to feed his paws to Libya," saying that the beast grew up in their zoo, which can indicate a bear " .

Haftar is known as an enemy of Islamists, troops under his command are fighting with the group of ig * in the city of Benghazi. Haftar in 2016 visited Moscow in June and in November for meetings with the heads of the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Defense, as well as Secretary of Security Council. According to the commander, the supply of weapons was not discussed, since Russia adheres to the UN-Impargo against Libya.

* The terrorist group "Islamic state" (IG) is prohibited in Russia.

In Ukraine, we managed to find a person who fought in Libya. The story of the mercenar in Libya.

The story of the Ukrainian mercenary.

The mercy has long been a full-fledged profession. It has a lot of titles, but only one value. In France, the soldiers on hiring were called "legionnaires", in Germany Landsknecht (servant of the country), in the USA they are called "wild geese."

The history of Ukrainian mercenaries begins with the birth of independent Ukraine. In the 90s, when the economy crackled on the seams, along the whole country, military units were collapsed. Experienced officers literally kicked out to the street. Just during this period, the first Ukrainian soldiers rushed abroad in search of happiness. Chechnya, Sierra Leone, Karabakh, Transnistria, Yugoslavia, South Ossetia. Most recently, the next milestone is Libya.

Our official there was no. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has repeatedly stated: news about the Ukrainian military is nothing more than a duck of journalists. By the way, journalists, primarily Western, wrote about Ukrainian mercenaries in Libya in the first days of clashes. For example, February 22, the American edition of Stratfor, with reference to its sources, has spread the information that Ukrainian pilots on the Soviet MiGs allegedly bomb the troops of the rebels and peaceful demonstrations against Gaddafi. It was also reported that someone from our Asov was captured.

Later - August 23 - the Ukrainian footprint in the Libyan War, found an employee of the American channel Channel 4 News. She wrote on the Twitter network: "Libyan rebels seized Ukrainian mercenaries who fought on the side of Libya Moamar Gaddafi leader. I saw 11 men who walked with arms raised. The commander of the rebels reported that these are hired killers who came to Libya from Ukraine. "

Earnings

In Ukraine, we managed to find a person who fought in Libya. 39-year-old Vladimir Lyakhovich (so he asked him to call him) came home from the countries covered by riots just a month ago.

There, he commanded the division of the Moamara Gaddafi Moamara Gaddafi for several months. Several times his life hung on the balance. Before the departure was heavily injured in the shoulder.

Permissions to publish your photo Vladimir did not give. Even his wife and daughter-schoolgirl have no idea what he actually did in Tripoli - they believe that he worked under the contract - the driver on the sale of used cars. And in fact, Lyakhovich (by the way, he from an officer family, with a weapon from childhood on you) for the first time in the hot spot visited in 1999 (Kosovo) True, as a peacemaker. There he met people who recruited mercenaries.

- As soon as Zavaruhi from Egypt was transferred to Libya, I realized that I could find a job. It went to the recruiters - they are always activated in such unstable periods, "says Vladimir. "All the more Libya, the country is rich, the technique there is Soviet, the Arabs do not know how to fight ... in their channels I learned: mercenaries will recruit the company from Odessa. In the early days of the war, they sent a plane with engineers in Tripoli. These guys in the 90s served in Libya Aviation and rocket plants. A little later heard that two dozen infantry flew into Jamahiria. In the past, they participated in peacekeeping operations, and some even "run around" in Georgia.

In Odessa, Vladimir arrived in mid-February. A small desk in the center of the city was gained in the Arab countries of specialists. Oil workers, engineers, drivers were needed. The main condition: good health and service in the army.

"A young girl has made me a contract on two leaves, said I will work the driver in the sales company," continues Volodya. - Departure was appointed for the first numbers of March, but not in Tripoli, but in the neighboring Sudan. Under this contract I was promised 4 thousand dollars a month.

Vladimir tells that together with him five young guys flew out, one of Donetsk, the rest of the Nikolaev and Odessa regions. At the airport, Ukrainian Commandos met Arab, called Ibrahim. The guys were seeded by machines and were lucky in Tripoli. No visas on the border were not set, mercenaries were imported illegally.

"We met with a military commandant at the hotel on the outskirts of Tripoli, he spoke well in Russian," said Vladimir Lyakhovich. - We briefly talked about arms, asked what closer to us. Gaddafi needed snipers who commander military units, soldiers who know how to handle complex weapons. The Libyans in service were the same cars as we. Calashnikov machines, Soviet anti-aircraft guns, guns, rockets of the Hallery Fire "Grad". From heavy - T-72 and T-62 tanks, BMP-1 infantry combat vehicles, BTR-60 armored personnel carriers, BRDM-2 military intelligence vehicles, Self-propelled Art installations 2c1 "Carnation" and 2C3 "Acacia".

I was defined for the command of the infantry platoon. It consisted of about 30 people mostly from the neighboring Libya African states. There were two guys from Serbia, one of Moldova. The rest of the guys who flew from Ukraine went into snipers, one in pilots.

All nuances settled quickly. I was given a certificate with someone else's name and surname, on which there was a serial number. Put combat tasks.

Immediately increased the "salary" - 10 thousand dollars a month. They promised if it becomes very hot, - $ 1,500 per day.

Russians in Libya

After a month, a more or less good service - the base where Vladimir served, defended the calm Tripoli - a real hell came. In March, the command of the Libyan troops decided to transfer Vladimir's platoon to Misuita. The troops of Gaddafi at that time had already taken this city three times, but they constantly had to retreat.

"We arrived at Misuita on April 13, and after three days in the city began this partiously," Vladimir recalls reluctantly. - 24 hours a day, a squall fire did not stop.

I do not know who participated in this meat grinder, my guys had their own tasks, but in the radio, I constantly heard Russian speech. The city center was the highest building, Ukrainian and Belarusian snipers worked there. During the next NATO airline, the building was destroyed. All who were inside died.

It is not known what would end for Vladimir his business trip, but on April 27 he got a crash bullet in his shoulder. He himself considers it luck. Because it was just at that time a calm was established - the next negotiations on the truce began. Lyakhovich received his money, documents, drove in Tripoli, and from there I got home (how exactly it does not want to say).

- The mercenary in the war has little rights if he arrived, fight to the end. He was captured - consider that you are a corpse, "says Vladimir. - At the end of April, several dozen soldiers of the Slavic appearance, which speak Russian, were arrested in the Misarate. They were transferred to Benghazi prison before the trial. What is unknown with them. Judging by how often the Ukrainian authorities repeat that there are no compatriots in Libya, they will rather shoot them than returned. After all, this is a huge scandal, at home can be imprisoned too. Understand this and mercenaries. Therefore, when the guys are captured, they do not say which country came from ...

Russia strengthens relations with Khalifa Hattar, one of the most powerful political leaders in Libya to open there military base, writes DW.

Last week, Moscow visited the Libyan Military Caliph Haftar, which controls a significant part of the Libyan Republic. According to the media, Libyan wanted to agree on the supply of Russian weapons to further combat Islamists in Libya, and Moscow tried to get permission to accommodate his military base in the country.

On the eve of the Libyan Government of National Unity announced the taking of coastal Sirta in the east of Libya. The news was sounded after the set of many diplomatic initiatives to resolve the Libyan conflict and six months of battles for native city Muammar Gaddafi, who became the stronghold of the "Islamic state" (forbidden in Russia a terrorist organization - ed.)in 2015.

Khalifa Haftar

This victory has become a great success for government troops, which in the east of the country constitute the competition of the generals of the General Caliph Haftar. In recent months, he took control of Benghazi and Oil Crescents with the help of its own forces, which consist of various armed groups and divisions of the Libyan Army. General Haftar receives support for Egypt and the UAE, and can also rely on loyal supporters, primarily in his native Kerenaica. Per lately He managed to become a leader in the fight against Islamists.

According to L'Orient-Le Jour, it is precisely in such a future that two trips to Moscow should be considered at the end of June and at the end of November. The Russian press believes that he had meetings with the Minister of Defense Sergey Shoigu and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, as well as secretary General Security Council of the Russian Federation. There, he probably asked to provide military assistance and put air strikes on Islamists as part of his offensive in the East of Libya. Although now, of course, it is still too early to argue that Moscow will begin military intervention in Libya, it is impossible to fully discount a similar perspective, in particular, after Russia expanded its role in the region, having military support to President Bashar Assad and fully changed the alignment In the Syrian conflict. "Two haftar trips to Moscow from the summer of 2016 were fruitful, but not because he got modern weapons, but because he managed to establish connections and bring bridges, having prepared the soil for Russian military assistance after the removal of the UN-Embargo," the expert believes According to Libya Ronald Bruce Saint-John (Bruce St-John).

According to the expert on Libya, Mattia Taldo, the establishment of connections with Libya will help Russia to strengthen relations with Egypt and even stronger to strengthen its position in the Middle East. Just like the President of Egypt, the Libyan leader Haftar is a leaving of power structures, which is actively struggling with political Islamism and terrorism.

The plans of Russia on the construction of the military base expert in an interview with the publication could not confirm, but it is confident that their implementation would significantly strengthen the situation of Russia in the Mediterranean. Conversations about the construction of a military base recently sounds louder, but discussed and just the possibility of obtaining the right of mooring vessels in Benghazi ports.

As Turkish media write with the help of a military base in Benghazi Russia by 700 kilometers bring to Europe as its naval and air force. The region of Russian interests also includes oil resources of Libya. While thanks to the support of Russia, which enjoy political smutch in the country, Haftar will strengthen its position in front of competitors, Russia will be able to engage in oil games around Libya.

So far, Moscow (officially) has no position in Libya, but it implements programs on its territory, approves a specialist in Russia from the French Institute of International Relations Julien Wepti. "Moscow sent dozens of instructors to the country to help the forces of General Haftar in Tobruk," he says, emphasizing the unlikely "official" military intervention in the foreseeable future.

Of the same opinion, Ronald Bruce Saint-John is adhered. According to him, Russia, most likely, would be limited to the military, financial and political support of the forces of General Haftar. Moscow has long been sought to get a naval base in the Mediterranean and (unsuccessfully) tried to extend her to Libya (during the conference before signing the Parisian peace treaty in 1947) at the negotiations with the West after World War II.

"Using Russia of the Egyptian military base Sidi Barranran less than 100 kilometers from the Libyan border can be a compromise in the context of strengthening military and anti-terrorism cooperation between Moscow and Cairir," believes Julien wepti.

Such intervention would give Moscow a lot. According to Ronald Bruce Saint John, the main task foreign Policy Russia under Vladimir Putin is the restoration of prestige lost after the end of the cold war and influence both in the international arena and in the Middle East. In addition, it should be noted that the Russian leadership "sincerely concerned" the threat of radical Islam and the prospect of the return of Islamists to Russia for carrying out terrorist attacks.

In addition to the desire to entrust himself in Libya and expand the influence in the region, it is worth noting the attractiveness for Russia of the military profile of General Haftar, especially since from 1978 to 1983 he studied in Moscow, emphasizes Julien wepti. In addition, the Kremlin seeks to reduce the role of Syria in his Middle East politics, and "the big activity in the Libyan front logically fits into this approach."

Divine between two governments. One with the capital in Tripoli is supported by the UN, while the second government in Tobruka is supported by Haftar. The Libyan Military Many see as a leader who can unite the country: He and his Libyan National Army are known for cleaning Benghazi and some other cities from Islamists.