A military transport aircraft associated with the Russian Armed Forces and the “Wagner” mercenary group landed in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, last weekend.
According to Modern.az, the aircraft's journey to Caracas, amid reports that US President Donald Trump intended to overthrow Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, attracted the interest of international experts, observers, and journalists.
The Il-76 type aircraft with registration number "RA-78765" arrived in Caracas after a two-day flight from Russia.
The aircraft's route was unusual. The aircraft passed over Armenia, Algeria, Morocco, Senegal, and Mauritania, crossing the Atlantic Ocean and landing in Venezuela.
According to the information, the Il-76 took off from an airport near Moscow, and its transponder signal was subsequently recorded by tracking systems. The purpose of choosing such a route was to avoid flying over the airspace of Western countries, "unfriendly countries" to Russia.
It is assumed that the aircraft made stops in several countries during the flight. Moscow has military relations with Algeria, industrial relations with Senegal, and friendly relations with Morocco. “Wagner” mercenaries have previously appeared in Mauritania as well. The stops in West African countries cooperating with Russia were intended to refuel the aircraft and facilitate transit.
It is not known what was transported on the aircraft. Il-76 type aircraft can carry up to 50 tons of cargo or up to 200 personnel. Such aircraft are known to have previously transported small arms, ammunition, and mercenaries. However, transporting larger systems – for example, S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems – would require several flights
The company “AviaKon Tsitotrans”, which owns the aircraft, possesses six Il-76 type transport aircraft and is under sanctions by the USA, Canada, and Ukraine. The reason for the sanctions is the company's close ties with Russian military structures and its supply of military equipment such as missiles, warheads, and helicopter parts to various regions.
Many observers claim that Russia transported weapons to Venezuela to protect Maduro. In any case, the Kremlin has previously sent military aid to countries it supports. Therefore, the dispatch of military aid to Venezuela is not ruled out.
