In a video posted by Jason J. Smart on his X, a Russian mercenary from the private military company Wagner was seen among Venezuelan police officers during protests against President Maduro. The footage showed a man in a camouflage suit with a Wagner Group insignia. The specific tasks of the Russian mercenaries in Venezuela are unclear, but they might be serving as advisors or providing reinforcements to local forces. Russia’s Wagner Group is said to be assisting in quelling the protests in Venezuela, as reported by Jason Jay Smart on Twitter. The relationship between Russia, Iran, Venezuela, and North Korea is described as intimate.

Protests erupted in the Venezuelan capital after President Nicolás Maduro announced his victory in the election. The opposition claimed that the election result was fraudulent and that their candidate, Edmundo González, had actually won. According to Reuters, Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group were already present in Caracas in 2019 to provide security for President Maduro after protests against his regime. The Russian private military company is also known to have trained local special forces. On July 27, Militarnyi reported that Wagner Group’s mercenaries were killed in Mali by the CSP-DPA rebel group. The rebels received information and support for their operation from Ukraine.

ملخص الأخبار

• Opposition claimed Edmundo González won after results showed fraudulent election.
• Russian mercenaries from Wagner Group provided security for Maduro amidst previous protests.
• Wagner Group’s mercenaries were defeated in Mali by CSP-DPA rebel group, supported by Ukraine.