Heavy Russian cargo plane lands in Caracas amid US-Venezuela tensions

BERLIN — A Russian transport plane of a kind linked to the nation’s army and former Wagner mercenary group has landed in the Venezuelan capital over the weekend, signaling heightened Russian curiosity in the Latin American nation.

The Ilyushin Il-76 transport plane with the registration RA-78765 arrived in Caracas on Sunday after a two-day journey that took it from Russia via Armenia, Algeria, Morocco, Senegal and Mauritania to Latin America, flight data show. It seems the plane embarked on its journey from an airport in the better Moscow space, with the transponder signal first being picked up shortly after takeoff.

The multi-stop journey is emblematic of the circuitous routes used to keep away from Western airspace or potential cargo inspections in unfriendly nations. It is also potential that deliveries or pick-ups had been made along the best way.

Russia has a army presence in Algeria, maintains an industrial footprint in Senegal, and relations with Morocco are cordial. Russian mercenaries have also been current in Mauritania, crossing over from neighboring Mali. Stopping in Russia-friendly nations in West Africa also allowed the plane to refuel before crossing the Atlantic.

An Il-76 can transport up to 50 tons of cargo or up to 200 people. Aircraft of this kind are recognized to have delivered small arms, army provides and even mercenaries on Russia’s behalf in the past. Larger deliveries, such as an S-400 air protection system, would possible require a number of journeys.

Aviacon Zitotrans, the operator of the Ilyushin, has a fleet of six transport plane and is under sanctions by the U.S., Canada and Ukraine for its ties to the Russian army. It has delivered army tools such as rockets, warheads, and helicopter elements globally, including to areas where the mercenary Wagner group has been lively. The Wagner group, previously headed by Yevgeny Prigozhin, has been a key instrument used by Russian president Vladimir Putin to lengthen his nation’s global geopolitical attain and was significantly lively in Africa, with studies of some exercise in Latin America. Following the group’s mutiny in 2023, it was absorbed into the Russian army correct, with its African operations turned into the Russian Africa Corps.

The latest Russian strikes in the area come as tensions between Venezuela, a longtime Moscow-aligned nation, and the United States have reached new heights. The U.S. has accused the federal government in Caracas of being concerned in the unlawful drug commerce, and has deployed army property to the area to conduct strikes on vessels it accuses of trafficking narcotics.

Washington has just lately moved an plane provider strike group to the area in a important escalation of its army posturing. Venezuela has accused the U.S. of “fabricating war.”