(Daily Star) – Two Russian Air Force reportedly planes landed in Venezuela’s main airport on Saturday carrying a Russian defense official and around 100 troops. One flight tracking website shows two aircraft left a Russian military base for the Venezuelan capital Caracas on Friday, with a further jet leaving on Sunday. The arrival of the military jets was confirmed by Javier Mayorca, an independent journalist, who said an Antonov-124 cargo plane and a smaller jet touched down late on Saturday. He said approximately 100
soldiers – led by General Vasily Tonkoshkurov, who is head of the Mobilization Directorate of Russia’s armed forces – was also seen, as well as 35 tons of equipment. Venezuelan authorities have yet to confirm the arrival, while the Russian Embassy in Caracas refused to comment. Russia has strengthened its ties with Venezuela recently as anti-US President Nicolas Maduro clings to power. The country is facing an economic crisis of epic proportions due to the disastrous fiscal policies of Maduro’s Socialist Government. READ MORE
