A diplomatic source said to Al-Jazeera that the report of the expert group on international sanctions imposed on Libya documented Russia's strengthening of its direct logistical support to the Wagner Group in Libya, which supports retired Major General Khalifa Haftar against the internationally recognized Government of National Accord.
The confidential report submitted by the experts to the sanctions committee noted that Russia sent 338 military cargo flights that took off from Syria between November of last year and July of this year.
The source said that the report confirmed that military logistical support from Russia to the Wagner Group - and possibly other private military companies based in Russia - has increased significantly from the beginning of this year until last June.
The report stated that the arms embargo imposed on Libya is still completely ineffective, and explained that since Turkey began to engage in Libya in December 2019 and the UAE’s involvement, the arms transfers to Libya by these two countries have been extensive, and they have ignored international sanctions.
The report concluded that Libya is entering a decisive turn with the intensification of the flow of weapons to the warring parties from their foreign backers, and that the continued flow of these weapons threatens to plunge the country into chaos and turmoil.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in January that if there were Russians in Libya, they would not represent his government and were not paid their salaries.