Vladimir Putin has sent one of his top generals to Venezuela, along with troops tasked with training Nicolás Maduro’s forces, according to a Ukrainian intelligence official.
The revelation comes as the US continues to amass a huge military presence in the region, with Donald Trump considering an attack on the South American country.
Ukraine’s Lt General Kyrlo Budanov has said that Colonel General Oleg Makarevich is leading Russia‘s ‘Equator Task Force’, a group of more than 120 personnel who are coaching the Venezuelan army on everything from infantry tactics to drone use.
Budanov claims that the Russian mission was already in place before the United States dramatically increased its number of equipment and personnel close to Venezuela.
The Ukrainian spy chief spoke as Trump‘s administration maintains a large number of US warships, aircraft and troops close to Venezuelan waters.
Washington says the deployment is aimed at drug traffickers, but it is also part of a campaign to pressure Maduro to resign. Trump’s senior advisers, including defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, are said to be presenting him with options for military operations.
Budanov argued that Makarevich and his men would not leave if the United States launched an attack.
He told The War Zone: ‘I think they will be behind the scenes and officially, Russia will try to speak to the US because their units are in Venezuela. It’s just a game.’
He described the Russian contingent as ‘military advisors and also teachers,’ and said they were providing training for infantry units, UAV operators and special forces. He added that the task force was also helping Venezuela gather signals intelligence.
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