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Why Trump’s capture of Venezuela’s Maduro is both a blessing and a curse for Russia
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Why Trump’s capture of Venezuela’s Maduro is both a blessing and a curse for Russia

by Oleg Sukhov

The U.S. operation to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, a Kremlin ally, is a blow to Russia's influence in Latin America. However, Russia may also derive some benefits from U.S. President Donald Trump's unprovoked intervention. First, Trump's apparent violation of international law plays into the Kremlin's handbook, analysts say. Russia is likely to use the legally dubious U.S. operation as a justification for its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. Second, Russia may also ac

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Thursday, January 8

Ukraine war latest: Oil tanker en route to Russia hit by drone in Black Sea

Hello, this is Chris York reporting from Kyiv on day 1,415 of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Today's top story: An oil tanker en-route to the Russian port of Novorossiysk was struck by a drone on Jan.8, Reuters reported citing a notice by Lloyd's List Intelligence The Palau-flagged Elbus "experienced an unmanned marine-vehicle and drone attack" in the Black Sea after departing from Singapore. None of the 25 crew were reported injured and the vessel made its way to the Turkish port o

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'Embarrassing' — We asked 3 experts why Venezuela's Russian-supplied air defenses were AWOL

A fire burns at Fuerte Tiuna, after a series of explosions in Caracas, Venezuela, on Jan. 3, 2026.

Of all the images that emerged from the U.S. military operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro on Jan. 3, one of the most surreal was the sight of a fleet of American helicopters flying unchallenged over the skies of Caracas. Video from Caracas, Venezuela shows U.S. military helicopters, including CH-47 Chinook and V-22 Osprey aircraft, operating over Caracas alongside multiple explosions. The cause and context of the blasts remain unconfirmed. pic.twitter.com/owOx9X7DPP — George

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