The game in the sapper

The Russian private military company RSB-Group conducted in Livia the clearance of a cement plant in Benghazi at the request of its owners. This was reported by RBC with reference to the head of the PMC, the former FSB officer Oleg Krinitsyna.

The RSB-Group worked under a contract with the owners of the plant, Libyan Cement Company, and not on the "official appeal of Libya," Krinitsyn emphasized. According to him, the Russian PMC won a tender, requesting a smaller amount than competitors for mine clearance. The cost of the contract amounted to $ 10 million.

The fact that the RSB-Group was in the country at the invitation of LCC was confirmed by the representative of the commander of the Libyan National Army Field Marshal of the Caliphs of Haftar, which controls the eastern regions of the country. His forces are fighting with the troops recognized by the West and the UN Government of Prime Minister Faiz Sarraja.

The LCC itself does not disclose the name of the company that worked on the clearance of the plant. It is only noted that in August of last year, “a group of European specialists specializing in the neutralization of ammunition of all types” visited the Benghazi plant and, together with the sapper unit of the Libyan army, developed a plan for cleansing the territory. However, in the published photographs, the name "RSB-groups" appears in inscriptions warning about mined areas.

"RSB groups" has existed for six years. PMC "provides military consulting services in the zones of warfare." According to Krinitsin, the company's specialists do not take part in the hostilities, but are engaged in cleansing, supporting courts and security.

On March 12, Reuters, citing Krinitsyna, reported that the militants of the RSB-Groupacted on the east of Libya on the side of Haftar . In total, in Libya there were several dozen mercenaries from Russia. According to Krinitsyn, they were engaged in the clearance of a certain industrial facility in the area near Benghazi, shortly before that conquered by Haftar from Islamist rebels. Russian militants arrived in Libya last year, and returned back in February, having completed their tasks, the head of the RSB said.

As the agency noticed in Russian military or nearby circles, it is unlikely that such a transaction take place without the approval of the Russian authorities. The head of the RSB himself denied the cooperation of his company with the Russian Ministry of Defense. At the same time, he stated that the company "advised" the Russian Foreign Ministry. Krinitsyn did not explain and whether the attraction of Russian mercenaries was approved by the UN authorities recognized by the UN.

According to Krinitsyn, his mercenaries had no task to participate in battles. At the same time, the head of the RSB noticed that after arriving in Libya they were armed - which weapons, he did not report. As Reuters notes, the UN imposed an embargo on the supply of weapons to other subjects to this country, except for an international recognized government.

As Krinitsyn said, his mercenaries had previously visited Syria. However, there, according to him, they also did not perform combat missions.

According to Reuters, there is no consensus on the Libyan issue in the Russian leadership. The Foreign Ministry advocates that Haftar has concluded an alliance with the international recognized government of Libya. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense, as well as a number of presidential administration officials, want Field Marshal to take control of his whole country. They argue that it is Haftar that will be able to again unite Libya, which, after the overthrow of the dictator of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, actually broke up into a number of regions that are controlled by various groups warring with each other.

On March 14, Reuters, citing diplomatic sources, said that in Egypt near the village of Sidi-Barrani about 100 km from the border with Libya there were units of Russian special forces and drones. American diplomats believe that the transfer of forces may be the beginning of the Russian operation to support Haftar. According to Egyptian sources, six Russian military units were transferred to the country by air. After 10 days of parking, the planes delivered them went to Libya.

At the same time, representatives of either the Egypt authorities or the Libyan military leader himself confirmed the information. “There are no soldiers of any foreign state on the territory of Egypt. This is a matter of sovereignty,” said the representative of the Egyptian army of Tamir Ar -Rifai.

The head of the Federation Council Defense Committee, Viktor Ozerov, also called Reuters a message "information duck". According to him, the Russian leadership did not raise the issue of sending Russian military personnel to Egypt or Libya before the Federation Council.