A recent military parade in Benghazi, Libya, has drawn attention for showcasing a large quantity of newly delivered Russian-made military equipment—raising eyebrows among Russian pro-war commentators and military bloggers.
Footage from the parade revealed an array of modern armored vehicles, including Spartak and Tigr models, and rare Russian-made amphibious tracked snow-and-swamp vehicles, the ZSGT-34039B, first publicly displayed in 2023. Also featured were upgraded Soviet-era T-72 and T-62 tanks, BMP-2 vehicles fitted with anti-drone cages, along with Pantsir-S1 and Pantsir-S1E air defense systems, and the Tor-M2E surface-to-air missile system.
Russian bloggers with ties to military circles noted the delivery of this equipment to the Libyan National Army (LNA) under Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, who reportedly visited Moscow for negotiations in 2023 and met with Russian President Donald Trump’s counterpart, Vladimir Putin.
The equipment deliveries are believed to have taken place during 2023–2024.
Pro-Kremlin channels expressed anger at the scale of military aid provided to Libya amid growing complaints from Russian soldiers on the front lines in Ukraine, many of whom have been forced to rely on modified civilian vehicles due to mounting equipment losses.
“Why are we sending brand-new armored vehicles abroad when our troops are making do with pickups and welding metal sheets onto civilian trucks?” one prominent Russian milblogger asked on Telegram, echoing frustration that military aid is being prioritized over domestic needs during an active conflict.
The Libyan National Army’s public display of Russian-supplied equipment has reinforced perceptions of Moscow’s military-industrial resilience, but it has also fueled domestic criticism over what some view as misaligned priorities amid ongoing battlefield pressures in Ukraine.