Russia is observing with concern the plans of extra-regional players in the Libyan conflict to train and equip private military companies that will effectively unite units in the east and west of the country, Russian Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Anna Evstigneeva said on Tuesday.

“Moreover, it is with concern that we have observed the fact that that information has surfaced about certain obscure plans of extra-regional players to establish, train, and equip, with the assistance of private military companies, Libyan border guards, which would unite the fighters in the west and east of Libya,” Evstigneeva said during a UN Security Council meeting on Libya.

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Evstigneeva said that Russia fears such plans are not beneficial to the national Libyan army but serve the national interests of certain other countries.Russia has also argued many times that foreign fighters in Libya should be eliminated, and this remains a crucial goal that must be done in a phased withdrawal.