Libya has denied handing over one of its bases to the Ukrainian Armed Forces for attacks on Russian vessels

A statement from the Libyan Ministry of Defense was issued the day after a CNN report regarding Ukrainian maritime drone operators based in the country's northwest.

"The Ministry confirmed that it has not granted any foreign party permission to use Libyan territory, facilities, airspace, or territorial waters to carry out hostile acts against any country or organization," the statement read.

 The Libyan Ministry of Defense emphasized that military cooperation and technical training with friendly nations take place solely within the framework of official and lawful agreements. The ministry urged the media to verify information with the competent Libyan authorities and not to present claims from anonymous sources as established facts.

 On September 12, CNN, citing a Ukrainian military intelligence official and a Ukrainian naval drone operator reported...that Ukrainian specialists have been in northwestern Libya since late 2025. According to the operator, his unit used an international military base in Misrata as a staging ground for attacks on the Russian "shadow fleet" in exchange for training local forces.

CNN notes that the presence of Ukrainian military personnel in Libya had previously been reported, but the Ukrainian government had not officially confirmed it.