Russia is landing military aircraft on newly refurbished runways under its control in Libya as the Kremlin quickly expands its footprint in Africa, satellite images show.

Telegraph analysis of three Libyan air bases found Russian military transport planes, upgraded runways, bolstered perimeter defences and entirely new buildings – changes that all occurred this year.

The upgrades suggest that Russia is significantly ramping up its military presence in Libya, thanks to a growing partnership with Libyan warlord General Khalifa Haftar, who controls the eastern and southern parts of the country.

Libya serves as the core for Russia’s fast-expanding operations in Africa, paving the way for greater access into countries including Sudan, Mali, Chad, and the Central African Republic.

Experts say military control in Libya also allows Russia to draw an arc of power from the eastern Mediterranean – where it already controls coastal positions in Syria – down to the southern Mediterranean via Libya.

On Tuesday last week, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, Russia’s deputy defence minister, touched down in Libya to meet with Gen Haftar in his sixth visit since August 2023, underscoring deepening relations.