The Russian cargo vessel, which was apparently escorted by a Russian Udaloy-class destroyer, arrived in the North African country following a closely watched voyage across the Baltic and English Channel.
The vessel, the Mys Zhelaniya, a 17,000 deadweight tonnage (dwt) geared freighter, was sighted in the Tobruk region of Libya, a port under the control of the militia forces led by the Libyan-American military commander, Khalifa Haftar.
It is being speculated that the vessel, under the escort of a Russian Naval warship, was employed for the transportation of military equipment, potentially destined for Russian-aligned forces operating in Libya.
The Russian vessel began its voyage at Kaliningrad in the port of Baltiysk.
Mys Zhelaniya’s destination was hidden on public navigation systems, but satellite imagery and subsequent tracking revealed that it had arrived at Tobruk.
The Russian Baltic Fleet uses Baltiysk as a major naval station, and military actions predominate at the port.
This is not the first instance of Russian naval vessels appearing in Libya.
A ceremony organized by the Libyans marked the visit to welcome the Russian partnership.
In January 2025, Ukrainian intelligence revealed that Russian ships were preparing to transport military equipment from a naval base in Syria to Libya after the overthrow of the former president of Syria, Bashar al-Assad.
Libya’s geographic location and political instability, which support Russia’s operations, make it a vital base for Moscow’s goal in Africa, according to the Atlantic Council.
“It provides Russia with a gateway to its operations in Sudan, Chad, Niger, and other Sahel and Central Africa countries, eventually projecting power and influence across these regions,” it said.
Libya’s ongoing political chaos creates opportunities for Russia to establish footholds through alliances with both local factions and official authorities,” it added.
As of 2024, there were around 800 and 1200 Wagner mercenaries in Libya, many of whom are in charge of important oil production sites.
This puts the Kremlin in a position to regulate Libyan output and influence global oil prices.
Mys Zhelaniya
The Russian-flagged vessel Mys Zhelaniya is a 17,000-dwt general cargo ship registered under IMO number 9366110 that has become a prominent subject of international sanctions.
War and Sanctions indicate that the vessel is owned by Transstroy LLC, a Russian construction company specializing in Arctic and northern maritime projects, and is also affiliated with Eco Shipping.
Mys Zhelaniya has been sanctioned by a number of jurisdictions, including the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Ukraine.
The sanctions restrict the ship’s access to ports, insurance, and international trade, highlighting the rising emphasis on marine logistics as part of larger attempts to limit Russia’s global operations.
