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Moscow’s Il-76 Military Plane Lands in Venezuela After Odd Route Amid Talk of US Intervention
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A Russian Il-76TD military transport aircraft has arrived in Caracas, Venezuela, after an unusually complex two-day route from Moscow—a move that raises eyebrows given growing speculation about a possible US military intervention in the country, Defence Express reported on October 29.
According to flight-tracking data from Flightradar24, the Il-76TD (registration RA-78765) departed Moscow on October 24 and reached Caracas on October 26, making multiple refueling stops along the way—first in Yerevan (Armenia), then Algiers (Algeria), Rabat (Morocco), Dakar (Senegal), and Nouakchott (Mauritania)—before crossing the Atlantic.
Defence Express notes that these stopovers largely coincide with countries that maintain friendly relations with Moscow, some of which host Russian military personnel. The outlet suggests that the aircraft may have picked up cargo along its route, as its zigzagging path through West Africa would otherwise be difficult to explain.
The precise contents of the delivery remain unknown, but based on the plane’s route and fuel range, Defence Express estimates the aircraft could have carried up to 34 tons of cargo to Venezuela.
Given Venezuela’s deteriorating arsenal of Russian-made weapons—including Su-30MK2 fighters, Mi-35M2 and Mi-17 helicopters, and several S-125 “Pechora-2M,” Buk-M2E, and S-300VM air-defense systems—analysts believe the shipment most likely included man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS), air-to-air missiles, or spare parts for aircraft and surface-to-air systems. Heavy missiles for systems like the Buk or S-300 are less probable due to their weight and the limited capacity of a single Il-76 flight.
Defence Express also adds that the aircraft remained in Caracas for roughly 45 hours, suggesting it was unloading before heading toward Cuba on October 28, though its final destination has not been confirmed.
The timing and nature of this flight, according to the report, indicate a possible Russian effort to bolster Venezuelan defenses amid renewed geopolitical tensions in the region.
Earlier, Russian leader Vladimir Putin signed a strategic cooperation and development treaty with Venezuela, which the Kremlin described as a “trust-based alliance” spanning economic, political, and defense sectors.
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-06779709d4425f12b97576d00eafb350.jpeg "Explosion at the oil storage facility near the Likhovskaya railway station in Russia’s Rostov region, November 10, 2025. (Source: Exilenova_plus)")
