Maduros Capture Highlights Russias Stalled Efforts in Ukraine

Pro-Kremlin figures and military bloggers have criticized the United States for its removal of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, while drawing attention to Russia’s own inability to capture Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

On Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Washington was now «in control» of Venezuela after American forces forcibly ousted Maduro in a surprising raid on Caracas.

Moscow has demanded that Maduro and his wife be released, condemning their capture as an “unacceptable violation of the sovereignty of an independent nation.”

However, Russian military bloggers — influential voices with substantial followings who frequently assess Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine — pointed out the difference between the U.S. action and Russia’s unsuccessful endeavor to take Kyiv and remove Zelensky’s administration in February 2022.

«Based on the videos coming out from Venezuela, U.S. forces faced no opposition whatsoever, either in the air or on the ground. I struggle to imagine Russian helicopters flying without hindrance over Kyiv. Ukraine has been preparing for a conflict with Russia for eight years, while Venezuela focused on military parades,” pro-Kremlin war correspondent Alexander Kots remarked to his over 512,000 Telegram subscribers.

“Today, we confront an adversary that is formidable and benefits from unprecedented support… We stumbled over our own mistakes in 2022,” Kots added. “Yet the world is replete with lessons to be learned.”

Starshe Eddy, a pro-war Telegram channel boasting approximately 600,000 followers, criticized any efforts to diminish the significance of the U.S. operation.

“To suggest that the entire mission in Caracas was trivial and that Russia could execute it better if given the command is simply arrogant and a display of hollow patriotism,” the channel stated.

“It’s clear that no one is directing the military to abduct [Zelensky]. He serves a more valuable purpose in his position than he would in Lefortovo Prison [in Moscow],” Starshe Eddy noted. “That said, there are numerous lower-ranking individuals whose removal would enhance Russia’s prestige.”

Pro-war blogger Alexander Kartavykh humorously remarked that while “the Americans captured Maduro, we captured a raccoon from Kherson” — referencing the animals taken from the Kherson Zoo during Russia’s withdrawal from the city in November 2022.

“If you embark on the next ‘special military operation’ without removing the military and political leadership and with naïve notions of ‘brotherly nations’ in your mind, you’re making a grave mistake, and future generations will hold you accountable,” he said, alluding to one of the Kremlin’s justifications for the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Ultra-nationalist ideologue Alexander Dugin characterized the situation in Venezuela as “a significant and urgent challenge for Russia.”

“The capture of Maduro shows that international law has ceased to exist — only the law of strength prevails,” he stated, emphasizing that Russia needs to make decisions and take actions “with greater urgency.”

“The war in Ukraine must not be halted under any circumstances — not until victory is secured,” he reiterated. “Look at Venezuela. If we don’t neutralize them now, they could annihilate us tomorrow — or even today. If necessary, we should be ready to engage the United States as well. While we may not conquer them, we must be able to defend ourselves.”

Veterans of the FSB’s Alpha special forces criticized the U.S. operation to capture Maduro, claiming it lacked “any notable professionalism.”

Alpha veteran and FSB colonel Vitaly Demidkin asserted that Moscow “could easily abduct Zelensky, but we adhere to international law. That’s why we aren’t engaging in such actions currently. Our personnel excel in these matters, period.”

While Moscow failed to oust Zelensky in 2022, Russia currently occupies around 20% of Ukrainian territory, and the UN has accused Russian forces of committing crimes against humanity against Ukrainian civilians.

Igor Girkin, the imprisoned former commander of Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, said that the Maduro operation was “not merely another insignificant nuisance… it’s a blow to our international reputation.”

“[The U.S.] exemplified how a great power should respond to emerging threats before they escalate into serious and unmanageable issues,” Girkin remarked.

Despite Caracas being one of Russia’s closest allies in South America and the signing of a strategic partnership between Putin and Maduro in May 2025, Moscow has remained passive as the Venezuelan leader faces criminal charges in New York.

“Once again, another nation that relied on Russia’s support finds itself abandoned,” Girkin commented, likely alluding to ousted Kremlin ally Bashar al-Assad of Syria. “Naturally, mired deeply in the bloody quagmire of Ukraine, we are hardly in a position to assist anyone else, much less provide support to Venezuela on the other side of the world, right under the nose of the United States.”