Libya's Divided Ports Fuel Russia-Ukraine Maritime Conflict

A Complex Web of Naval Activity Off Libya

According to a report by The Maritime Executive, geospatial intelligence firms have tracked a Russian naval convoy departing the Baltiysk base in Kaliningrad, transiting the Strait of Gibraltar, and arriving at the port of Tobruk in eastern Libya. The convoy consisted of the Ropucha-class landing ship Aleksandr Shabalin (L110) escorting two sanctioned cargo vessels, Anastasiia (IMO 9349291) and Yuriy Arshenevskiy (IMO 8406705), which were observed passing between Sicily and Tunisia on September 10.

Both cargo ships reportedly have documented records of transporting military cargo, and footage reviewed by geospatial analysts showed Ural trucks and armored vehicles being loaded at Baltiysk before departure. As a landing ship, the Aleksandr Shabalin is also capable of carrying heavy armored equipment.

Uncertain End-Users

The ultimate destination of this equipment remains unclear. Possible recipients include forces loyal to the Libyan National Army under Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, who controls Tobruk and eastern Libya and is opposed by the Turkey-backed government in Tripoli. Other potential recipients cited include the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan, reportedly supplied via southeastern Libya and Chad with Emirati backing, or Russia’s Africa Corps, which supports government forces across several Central African states.

Ukraine’s Response in the Mediterranean

The report notes that Russian maritime activity connected to Libya presents an ongoing target for Ukraine’s efforts to disrupt Russian operations. While a Libyan Observer report denied claims that Ukraine operates a drone unit at Misrata Air Base—where Turkey also maintains a presence—both CNN and French broadcaster RFI have reportedly confirmed the unit’s existence through interviews with Ukrainian personnel stationed there.

This Ukrainian detachment, linked to the SBU and based in the semi-autonomous city of Misrata, is believed to be behind a string of attacks on Russian-linked and “dark fleet” vessels in the Mediterranean. Cited incidents include the December strike on the Omani-flagged tanker Qendil (IMO 9310525) and a more recent September 7 attack on the Russian military cargo ship Lady Mariia (IMO 9220641). Both attacks reportedly used bomb-dropping hexacopter drones, likely launched from a support vessel near the target rather than directly from Misrata, given the roughly 15-nautical-mile range of Ukraine’s Volyniaka drone model.

Operational Constraints and Political Undercurrents

The source suggests that any vessel launching these drones within range of its target would itself be vulnerable to interception by Russian naval assets, particularly those carrying helicopters—meaning Ukrainian forces are unlikely to strike Russian or dark-fleet ships that have a naval escort. The political rivalry between Misrata’s city leadership and Haftar’s faction may also be a factor, with the report suggesting Misrata’s leaders could have incentive to encourage strikes even against Russian vessels docked at Tobruk.

As of September 17, the damaged Lady Mariia remained anchored at the northern end of the Suez Canal. It may either continue south toward markets that have historically received Russian arms—including both sides of the Sudanese conflict—or wait for a Russian naval escort before re-entering the Mediterranean corridor where the earlier attack occurred.

What This Means for Ship Owners and Operators

For commercial operators, this situation underscores how geopolitically entangled shipping lanes have become in the central Mediterranean and along routes linking the Baltic, Gibraltar, and North Africa. Vessels transiting these waters—particularly those with any tenuous connection to sanctioned trades or military logistics—face elevated risk of being misidentified or targeted amid an escalating drone conflict that is no longer confined to the Black Sea. This raises practical questions for owners and charterers regarding voyage planning, insurance exposure, and due diligence on cargo and counterparties. It also reinforces the value of thorough pre-fixture vetting and condition surveys, since vessels operating in contested corridors may sustain damage, face delays, or become subject to increased scrutiny from flag states, insurers, and port authorities alike.

Reviewed by Ibrahim Halil Ceylan, Marine Surveyor at Apeks Marine.