A high-ranking member of Russia’s lower parliamentary defense committee has disclosed that the Kremlin has dispatched a new contingent of air defense systems to Venezuela, a move that comes as the South American nation faces mounting military pressure from the United States. In an interview with the Russian news outlet *Gazeta*, Alexei Zhuravlev, who serves as the first deputy chairman of the State Duma’s Defense Committee, enumerated several categories of weaponry previously supplied by Moscow to Caracas, such as Su-30MK2 fighter aircraft and S-300VM surface-to-air missile systems. He further revealed, for the first time, the recent delivery of a weapons platform not previously acknowledged to be part of Venezuela’s arsenal — the Pantsir-S1 system, a sophisticated air defense apparatus designed to intercept a broad spectrum of aerial threats.

Zhuravlev informed *Gazeta* that, according to the most current intelligence available to him, both the Russian Pantsir-S1 and the Buk-M2E systems had been transported to Venezuela via Il-76 cargo planes — large Ilyushin military transport aircraft typically employed for strategic logistical deployments. His statements, published on Saturday, suggest that such transfers could signify not only the continued deepening of the military relationship between Moscow and Caracas but also a symbolic reaffirmation of Russia’s geopolitical outreach to Latin America amid renewed antagonism between Venezuela and the United States. Should this account prove accurate, it underscores a new phase of Russian-Venezuelan cooperation at a time when ties between Caracas and Washington have grown increasingly hostile. Analysts have pointed out that these deliveries, if confirmed, could also have implications for Russia’s own defense stockpile, given the intense demand on its armaments due to the protracted conflict with Ukraine.

Expanding on his remarks, Zhuravlev hinted at the possibility that Russia might not limit its assistance to defensive systems alone. He implied that Moscow could potentially consider shipping more advanced offensive weaponry, including systems such as ballistic or cruise missiles, to bolster Venezuela’s deterrent capabilities. However, he clarified that no public details regarding the timing or volume of such transfers were available, adding that the classified nature of military transactions between the two nations might allow Russia to surprise its geopolitical challengers. Notably, Business Insider, which reported on his comments, stated that it had been unable to independently verify the authenticity of Zhuravlev’s assertions.

Supporting evidence comes from publicly available aviation tracking data compiled by FlightRadar. Records indicate that an Ilyushin Il-76 cargo aircraft landed in Caracas on October 26 before continuing to visit several other Latin American destinations with political ties to the Kremlin. The aircraft in question was operated by Aviacon Zitotrans, a Russian cargo airline that was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2023 for its role in transporting military hardware, including rockets, warheads, and helicopter components. According to U.S. authorities, Venezuela has long been one of the destinations serviced by this company. Additional flight data show that the same Il-76 returned to Caracas on October 29, remained grounded for approximately twenty-four hours, and subsequently departed for Havana, Cuba. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain whether the plane was carrying the Pantsir-S1 systems referenced by Zhuravlev or represented a different shipment altogether.

Venezuela’s existing air defense network is primarily composed of a combination of Russian-made systems, structured to create a multi-layered shield against aerial incursions. The Pantsir-S1, technically a short-to-medium range surface-to-air missile platform, marks a significant technological upgrade compared to Venezuela’s older Pechora-2M systems, which were received more than a decade ago and designed during the Soviet era. In contrast to its predecessors, the Pantsir-S1 boasts dramatically improved mobility and advanced radar sensors, enabling it to effectively engage low-flying aircraft, drones, or cruise missiles that might bypass other defense layers. This capability makes it an ideal complement to Venezuela’s existing long-range defenses — including the S-300VM and the Buk-M2 — both of which were also acquired from Russia in prior years. The S-300VM is known for its ability to intercept targets at distances approaching 120 miles, typically functioning as a strategic weapon against ballistic missiles and high-performance aircraft. Meanwhile, the Buk-M2, with an effective range of approximately 30 miles, serves as a versatile system optimized for targeting aircraft, helicopters, and slower-moving cruise missiles. The Pantsir-S1, by comparison, operates within a range of 12 to 20 miles and is specialized in point defense — often deployed to safeguard critical infrastructure or to protect the larger S-300VM units themselves from close-range attacks.

During his discussion with *Gazeta*, Zhuravlev went further, raising the possibility of transferring even more advanced missile technologies to Venezuela. He asserted that there were no binding international treaties or obligations that would prohibit Russia from exporting systems such as the Oreshnik ballistic missile or the Kalibr cruise missile, both of which are regarded as potent offensive weapons with substantial strike potential. His remarks suggested that, from a strictly legal standpoint, Moscow retains the discretion to expand its military assistance to Caracas, should it choose to do so. While he stopped short of confirming any such transfers, his statements implied that Russia perceives its cooperation with Venezuela as both legitimate and strategically valuable within the current international framework.

These revelations arrive at a time when the Venezuelan government remains highly anxious about U.S. military activities in the Caribbean region. The United States has intensified its posture by increasing troop deployments and carrying out airstrikes against maritime targets that U.S. officials, during the Trump administration, accused of participating in narcotics trafficking. The situation escalated further when, in the previous month, the U.S. Navy dispatched its largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, the USS *Gerald R. Ford*, to Caribbean waters, accompanied by a fleet of at least nine additional warships. Washington’s increasingly assertive stance has coincided with the U.S. Justice Department’s formal charges against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, accusing him of narcoterrorism — allegations that Maduro unequivocally denies. Former U.S. President Donald Trump had repeatedly floated the idea of direct military action against Venezuela but also issued contradictory remarks that appeared to temper or walk back those threats. In a televised CBS interview aired on a Sunday, Trump minimized the prospect of such an escalation, remarking that while friction with Caracas persists, he doubted the likelihood of outright war, stating, “I doubt it. I don’t think so. But they’ve been treating us very badly.”

Requests for comment regarding these developments were sent to the White House, the Pentagon, and the U.S. State Department; however, none of those offices responded outside of regular business hours. Similarly, the Russian Defense Ministry declined to provide any official response to inquiries about the reported weapons transfer. Thus, although evidence points to growing logistical and strategic cooperation between Russia and Venezuela, the precise scale, composition, and long-term implications of these military deliveries remain uncertain, leaving international observers watchful for the next signal in this evolving geopolitical narrative.

Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-lawmaker-send-pantsir-buk-venezuela-air-defenses-ilyushin-2025-11