On 12 May in the afternoon, Libyan National Army (LNA) Deputy Commander Lieutenant General Saddam Haftar arrived with his delegation in Moscow, Russia, in response to an official invitation from the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Saddam Haftar was received at the airport by Deputy Minister of Defense Vasily Sergeyevich Osmakov with an official reception ceremony. Osmakov is the Deputy Minister responsible for international military cooperation, military innovation, and strategic weapons control & agreements.
On 13 May, Saddam Haftar was received by Sergei Kiriyenko, Deputy Head of the Russian Presidential Administration, for a brief office call, and by Russian Minister of Defense Andrey Removich Belousov. Saddam Haftar thanked both for the official invitation of the Russian side and stressed that the visit aligns with the General Command’s directives to deepen cooperation with friendly states, expand Libya’s regional and international presence, and elevate partnerships with major powers. He also expressed gratitude for the warm reception, describing it as a sign of Russia’s appreciation for the Libyan Armed Forces.
The discussions focused on international and regional developments and on strengthening military cooperation, particularly in training, qualification programs, and enhancing operational readiness. Both sides emphasized the importance of coordinating efforts to support regional security and stability and reaffirmed their commitment to advancing a strategic partnership that serves the shared interests of both countries.
Among the members of the delegations of Belousov were Deputy Minister Osmakov, Admiral Igor Kostyukov, Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and Lieutenant General Andrey Averyanov, Deputy Director of the GRU overseeing operations in Africa.
On 14 May, Lieutenant General Averyanov officially bid farewell to Saddam Haftar at the airport.