BERLIN – A Russian transport plane of a type linked to the country's military and former Wagner mercenary group landed in the Venezuelan capital this weekend, in a sign of increased Russian interest in the Latin American country.
The Ilyushin Il-76 transport plane with registration RA-78765 arrived in Caracas on Sunday after a two-day journey from Russia via Armenia, Algeria, Morocco, Senegal and Mauritania to Latin America, flight data showed. It appears the plane began its journey from an airport in the Moscow area, with the transponder signal first picked up shortly after takeoff.
The multi-stop journey is emblematic of the circuitous routes used to avoid Western airspace or possible cargo inspections in unfriendly countries. It may also have been delivered or collected along the way.
Russia has a military presence in Algeria, an industrial footprint in Senegal and relations with Morocco are cordial. Russian mercenaries have also been present in Mauritania, from neighboring Mali. Stopping in Russia-friendly countries in West Africa also allowed the plane to refuel before crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
An Il-76 can carry up to 50 tons of cargo or up to 200 people. Aircraft of this type are known to have delivered small arms, military supplies and even mercenaries on behalf of Russia in the past. Larger deliveries, such as an S-400 air defense system, would likely require multiple trips.
Aviacon Zitotrans, the operator of the Ilyushin, has a fleet of six transport aircraft and is under sanctions from the US, Canada and Ukraine over its ties to the Russian military. It has supplied military equipment such as missiles, nuclear warheads and helicopter parts worldwide, including to regions where the Wagner mercenary group has been active. The Wagner Group, formerly led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, has been a key tool used by Russian President Vladimir Putin to expand his country's global geopolitical reach and has been particularly active in Africa, with reports of some activity in Latin America. Following the group's mutiny in 2023, the group was incorporated into the Russian army proper, with its African operations transformed into the Russian Afrika Korps.
The latest Russian moves in the region come as tensions between Venezuela, a country long allied with Moscow, and the United States have reached new heights. The US has accused the government in Caracas of being involved in the illegal drug trade and has deployed military assets in the region to carry out attacks on ships it accuses of trafficking in narcotics.
Washington recently moved an aircraft carrier strike group to the region, marking a significant escalation in its military posture. Venezuela has accused the US of 'manufacturing war'.
