The 444th Combat Brigade categorically denies the claims circulating on social media regarding its involvement in the clashes in Zintan and the accompanying reports of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi’s death.

The 444th Combat Brigade is a military unit of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, formed in 2022 during the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. It has been actively involved in defensive and combat operations in eastern Ukraine, notably participating in the defense of the Donetsk region.

Zintan is a city in northwestern Libya known for its strategic location in the Nafusa Mountains. Historically, it played a significant role during the 2011 Libyan Civil War as a stronghold for anti-Gaddafi forces. The area is also recognized for its Berber (Amazigh) cultural heritage and traditional mountain architecture.

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi is the second son of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who was once seen as a potential reformist successor and a prominent public figure for the regime. His history is deeply tied to his father’s rule, his own political ambitions, and his subsequent indictment by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity during the 2011 Libyan civil war.