The spokesman for the Libyan Government of National Accord’s Sirte-Jufra Operations Room Abdelhadi Drah said that a helicopter carrying Russian fighters crashed western Sokna, near Jufra airbase.

A source from Sokna told The Libya Observer Wednesday that the helicopter was carrying Wagner Group mercenaries and ammunition, saying its crashing accident caused explosions for several hours.

The source added that multinational forces under Wagner Group rushed to the accident scene and closed all roads leading to it, preventing civilians and military forces from approaching the wreckage.

Haftar’s forces have been deploying fighters and military equipment as well as Pantsir-S1 systems in many areas in the region.