Hommam Al Nassim 
The Chief of Staff of the Naval Forces of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces, led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, announced the docking of the Russian frigate Admiral Shbashnikov and the cruiser Varyag in the port of Tobruk on Monday.
The Navy explained, in a statement, that the purpose of the arrival of the two pieces is to provide technical and logistical support and maritime cooperation.
The visit of Russian warships comes within practical steps to enhance cooperation between Russia and Libya, restore long-term friendly relations, and provide Russian expertise with the aim of strengthening the sovereignty and independence of the Libyan state and its armed forces.
Within the framework of this cooperation, 250 students and officers were sent to study at the military academies in the Russian Federation, including 100 students and officers at the Russian Naval Academies.
The visit of the two Russian naval vessels comes days after the Russian naval forces participated in joint exercises with the Egyptian naval forces.
In late May, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunusbek Yevkirov arrived at Benina International Airport in Benghazi, heading a high-level delegation from the Russian government.
The delegation was received by officials from the parliament-designated government headed by Osama Hammad, along with leaders of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces.
It is noteworthy that the Russian Deputy Minister of Defense made four visits to the eastern region since last August and met with Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar during all of these visits.
More than once, Libya called on Russian forces to establish a naval base on Libyan shores to help control security, combat terrorism, and rebuild and rehabilitate Libyan forces.
Russian-Libyan relations are witnessing a continuous rise following Moscow’s provision of support to Libya to restore its position and restore the devastation caused by the NATO invasion in 2011.
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