A Russian mercenary of the private military company Wagner was spotted among Venezuelan police officers during protests against President Maduro.

The video was posted by Jason J. Smart on his X.

The released footage shows a man in a camouflage suit with a Wagner Group insignia standing among the police officers.

It is unclear what specific tasks Russian mercenaries are performing in Venezuela. However, it is possible that they are serving as advisors or providing reinforcements to local forces.

Russia’s Wagner Group is helping to stop the protests in Venezuela ??.

The relationship between Russia, Iran, Venezuela, & North Korea is intimate.

Defeating Russia in Ukraine & Maduro in Venezuela will be a disaster for the other dictatorships.

pic.twitter.com/XiKYX09bHU

— Jason Jay Smart (@officejjsmart) August 1, 2024

Protests erupted in the Venezuelan capital after President Nicolás Maduro announced his victory in the election.

The opposition called the election result fraudulent, claiming that after 73.2% of the votes were counted, their candidate, Edmundo González, won.

It’s not the first time Russian mercenaries have been on assignment in Venezuela; according to Reuters, Wagner Group’s mercenaries were in Caracas in 2019 to provide security for President Maduro after protests against his regime.

In addition, it is known that the Russian private military company trained local special forces.

On July 27, Militarnyi reported on the defeat of Wagner Group’s mercenaries in Mali.

As a result of an ambush by a local rebel group, the CSP-DPA, mercenaries of the private military company Wagner were killed, including two influential mercenaries with the call signs “Belyi” and “Lotus.”

Fighters from the CSP-DPA group shot down two helicopters of the Wagner private military company in Mali.

The rebels received information and everything they needed for the military operation from Ukraine in advance.