Russia Withdraws 1,200 Mercenaries From Libya Amid Setbacks In Ukraine

Russia has withdrawn around 1,200 of its mercenaries from Libya, amid a series of setbacks in its offensive in Ukraine.

According to the Financial Times on Friday, it is claimed that 200 Russians belonging to the mercenary Wagner Group and 1,000 Syrians hired by Moscow had left Libya in recent weeks.

However, the report clarified, that 5,000 of the Russian mercenaries still remain in the country.

The Middle East Monitor claimed the Wagner Group reportedly managed and financed by Yevgeny Prigozhin, who has close ties with Russian President, Vladimir Putin has committed numerous human rights abuses against civilians.

The group is also accused of setting up explosive land mines in Libya and beating, torturing, and burning unarmed men in Syria.

Russia's withdrawal of the mercenaries comes amid setbacks suffered by the Russian military in Ukraine. It is expected that the Wagner Group mercenaries would be deployed to assist Russian forces in their operations in Ukraine.