Russian air defense systems in Venezuela were inoperable during US operation to capture Maduro - NYT

Russian air defense systems in service with the Venezuelan army proved to be inoperable during the US operation to capture President Nicolás Maduro. It was reported by the American edition of The New York Times (NYT) with reference to its own sources.

Venezuelan troops had such advanced air defense systems as S-300 and Buk-M2. Back in 2009, Caracas announced with great publicity the purchase of these weapons from russia amid worsening relations with the United States. Venezuela's then leader Hugo Chávez proclaimed these weapons as a means of deterring American aggression.

However, Venezuela failed to ensure proper maintenance and operation of the above-mentioned air defense systems. This led to the fact that on the night of January 2 to 3, its airspace was vulnerable when the United States launched an operation to capture Maduro. In addition, an analysis of satellite images showed that some components of the S-300 and Buk-M2 air defense systems were in storage at the time of the US operation, and not in working order.

Unnnamed interlocutors of the publication said that some anti-aircraft missile launchers were not connected to radar stations. They probably had not been connected to radars for several years.

Part of the responsibility for the failure to repel the air attack also lies with russia. Russian instructors stationed in Venezuela failed to ensure that the air defense systems were operational.

"Russia’s own war demands in Ukraine may have limited its ability to sustain those systems in Venezuela, to make sure they were fully integrated," Richard de la Torre, a former C.I.A. station chief in Venezuela who now runs Tower Strategy, a Washington-based lobbying firm, told the NYT.

He added that years of corruption, poor logistics and sanctions have led to a decline in the combat readiness of Venezuelan air defense systems.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on January 3, US President Donald Trump said that the US military captured Nicolás Maduro in a lightning operation in Caracas.

Later, Reuters reported, citing sources, that the US military involved more than 150 aircraft, helicopters and Tomahawk cruise missiles in the operation to capture Maduro.

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