Over the weekend, a Russian transport aircraft, specifically an Ilyushin Il-76 linked to the country’s military and the former Wagner mercenary group, landed in Caracas, Venezuela. This event highlights Russia’s increasing interest in Latin America.
The aircraft, registered as **RA-78765**, arrived in the Venezuelan capital on **Sunday** after a two-day journey. The route took it from Russia, stopping in several countries including **Armenia, Algeria, Morocco, Senegal, and Mauritania** before reaching Latin America. Flight records indicate that the plane took off from an airport in the greater Moscow area, with its transponder signal detected shortly after departure.
The multi-stop journey underscores the effort to evade Western airspace and avoid possible cargo inspections in unfriendly nations. It is suggested that the aircraft might have made deliveries or pickups during its stops. Russia maintains military presence in Algeria, has industrial ties with Senegal, and has cordial relations with Morocco. Additionally, Russian mercenaries have been known to operate in Mauritania, having crossed from Mali. Refueling in Russia-friendly West African countries facilitated the aircraft’s transatlantic journey.
An Ilyushin Il-76 is capable of transporting up to **50 tons** of cargo or **200 people**. This aircraft type has previously been involved in delivering small arms, military supplies, and even mercenaries on Russia’s behalf. Significant shipments, such as S-400 air defense systems, typically necessitate multiple trips.
The operator of this Ilyushin aircraft, **Aviacon Zitotrans**, has a fleet of six transport planes and is currently under sanctions imposed by the U.S., Canada, and Ukraine due to its connections to the Russian military. The company has been reported to deliver military equipment globally, including regions where the Wagner group has been active. Notably, the Wagner group, which was led by **Yevgeny Prigozhin** until 2023, served as a tool for Russian President **Vladimir Putin** to expand Russia’s geopolitical influence, particularly in Africa. Following a mutiny in 2023, the group was incorporated into the Russian military, transforming its operations into the Russian Africa Corps.
This recent development coincides with escalating tensions between Venezuela, a traditionally Moscow-aligned nation, and the United States. The U.S. government has accused Caracas of involvement in the illegal drug trade and has increased military deployments in the region to target vessels suspected of trafficking narcotics.
**Linus Höller** is the Europe correspondent and OSINT investigator for Defense News, focusing on arms deals, sanctions, and global geopolitics. He holds master’s degrees in WMD nonproliferation, terrorism studies, and international relations, and is proficient in English, German, Russian, and Spanish.
