BERLIN — Over the recent weekend, a type of Russian transport plane commonly associated with the nation’s military and the previously operational Wagner mercenary group was observed arriving in Caracas, Venezuela. This occurrence underscores a growing Russian engagement with the Latin American nation.
has been involved in delivering military hardware such as rockets, warheads, and helicopter parts globally, including to areas where the Wagner group was active. The Wagner group, once led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, served as an instrumental force for Russian president Vladimir Putin in expanding Russia’s influence globally, especially in Africa and reportedly in Latin America. Post the 2023 mutiny, the group was integrated into the official Russian military, transforming its African operations into the Russian Africa Corps.’ type=”text” class=”default__Floating-sc-1mncpzl-0 kcXmxI”>
Aviacon Zitotrans, which operates this Ilyushin model, owns six transport aircraft and faces sanctions from the U.S., Canada, and Ukraine due to its affiliations with the Russian military. It has been involved in delivering military hardware such as rockets, warheads, and helicopter parts globally, including to areas where the Wagner group was active. The Wagner group, once led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, served as an instrumental force for Russian president Vladimir Putin in expanding Russia’s influence globally, especially in Africa and reportedly in Latin America. Post the 2023 mutiny, the group was integrated into the official Russian military, transforming its African operations into the Russian Africa Corps.
This latest installment of Russian activity in the area occurs as tensions between Venezuela, a staunch ally of Moscow, and the United States escalate. The U.S. has implicated the Venezuelan government in narcotics trafficking and has responded by deploying military forces to target suspected drug transport operations in the region.
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Jamal Peterson reports on defense, aerospace, and tech policy. With a military background and a strategic mind, he dissects complex subjects with clarity, offering readers sharp, reliable insights.
