Four Russian personnel of the Wagner group were killed when their helicopter crashed in Libya

The helicopter of an unknown Mil type came down in the town of Sukna near Al-Jafra air base in central Libya. It is yet unknown if the helicopter was shot down or crashed due to technical problems. Fact is that the helicopter was armed and it possibly moved ammunition to a Wagner location, one of the oil fields used by Russian mercenaries in Libya. The helicopter exploded after it crashed and it is reported that multiple secondary explosions were seen and heard.

Just recently, on 28 or 29 June 2020 a MiG-29 that belonged to the Wagner Group crashed over Libya, killing its mercenary pilot. A second MiG-29 of the group crashed on 7 September 2020 over Libya. These aircraft belonged to a fourteen jet fighter strong detachment, consisting out of MiG-29s and Su-24s, that were delivered from Russia via Khmeimin air base in Syria to Libya.

The fighter aircraft are based at Jufra and Khadim air bases. Later on, also Mi-8s (various variants) and Mi-24 attack helicopters were sent to Libya and flown by the Wagner Group. The whole detachment supports Khalifa Haftar of the Libyan National Army (LNA) in its fight against the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA).

Possibly, early September 2020, a Mi-24, suspected of being flown by Wagner, crashed in Libya. The Wagner Group has close ties to the Russia’s GRU, the Russian military intelligence agency. Wagner is known as a paramilitary military company.

So to sum up ... two MiG-29s, one Mi-24 and now another Mil helicopter crashed over Libya, and all are suspected to be operated by the Wagner Group.

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