Russian elites are concerned about the kidnapping and arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, attempts by the American authorities to take control of the country, as well as the protests in Iran, which began in the first days of 2026 and have lasted for over two weeks. Two sources close to President Putin's administration and one source close to the Russian government informed Meduza about this.
While historic events took place in Venezuela and Iran in the first days of January, representatives of the Russian top bureaucracy and business were resting – the long New Year holidays were in progress in Russia. “They watched the events during the trip like a reality show,” says one of Meduza's interlocutors. At that time, he was resting in one of the regions in the south of Russia.
Employee of the administration of the Central Federal District [jeden z ośmiu okręgów federalnych Rosji z centrum administracyjnym w Moskwie — red.] he told Meduza that he had talked to officials he knew about a possible US military operation in Venezuela before it took place, but then none of them believed that Washington would really decide to overthrow the current authorities.
— It seemed like such a bold move, especially since [Wenezuela] is our ally. There have been statements that Russia will come to help if necessary. Ultimately, the United States was able to do this and no one came to help. This surprised me, says Meduza's source.
He adds that at that time he expected some reaction from the Russian authorities, but now he understands why there was none: “There are simply no funds for this, they are all intended for EWS.” [Specjalna Wojskowa Operacja — tak rosyjska propaganda nazywa inwazję na Ukrainę— red.].
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Putin's mouth watered
Vladimir Putin has not yet commented on the arrest of Nicolas Maduro and US actions in Venezuela. He also did not publicly react to the detention of shadow fleet tankers, one of which flew the Russian flag. The president had such an opportunity: on January 6, he interrupted his vacation to attend a Christmas service in a church on the GRU base. In his first days of work, he met with the Chairman of the State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, and the Governor of the Yaroslavl Oblast, Mikhail Yevrayev.
A person close to President Putin's administration and a source close to the government believe that the president will continue to avoid public reaction to these events. Putin's press spokesman Dmitry Peskov also did not comment on the arrest of Nicolas Maduro. In December 2025, he called Venezuela an “ally” and “partner” and emphasized that the leaders of Russia and Venezuela maintain “permanent contacts.”
An interlocutor from government circles believes that “the country's highest authorities have no intention of quarreling with Trump for now.” However, he points out that such “attacks on Russia's allies” undermine the concept of a “multipolar world” and make it difficult to implement the idea of a “reliable partnership” with the Kremlin.
— After the events in Venezuela, it will be much more difficult to discuss these topics. Allies are unlikely to treat Russia as a reliable partner and defender. It's not specifically about Venezuela's resources that could have been exploited, but about the approach. This is a loss of image: allies of strong countries are not treated this way, says Meduza's source.
According to an interlocutor close to the president's administration, some elites, such as employees of the domestic policy bloc, regional officials and owners of non-oil businesses, “the Venezuela problem” seems “distant.” – Trump deals with the Western Hemisphere, he has no time for Ukraine and Eastern Europe, so it is beneficial for Russia – says Meduza's source, an idea popular among this part of the elite. – How much it matters in reality is another question, but this opinion is common, he says.
What about Iran? “It will be nice if America embarrasses itself”
Meduza's interlocutor, working in one of the government agencies, preferred not to talk to the website about the protests in Iran, citing that “we don't know how they will end.” — Overall, it will be nice if America discredits itself after Venezuela. And Iran is a partner, says a source close to the Kremlin.
Russian media received recommendations from the presidential administration regarding coverage of the arrest of Nicolas Maduro. According to the guidelines, “separating Russia from the West” and “shaping its sovereign independence”, Vladimir Putin did the right thing. At the same time, the presidential administration is asking state media to present events in Venezuela in the context of the alleged possible annexation of Greenland by the United States and Donald Trump's critical statements about the situation in Mexico and Cuba.
At the same time, employees of state media and media loyal to the Kremlin interviewed by “Meduza” did not receive clear instructions regarding reporting on events in Iran, except for the recommendation to refer to the announcements of the Iranian authorities in published news.
A political strategist working with the presidential administration assures that news from Venezuela or Iran is of little interest to a “wide group” of Russians:
— An ordinary citizen doesn't care about Iran or Venezuela, he doesn't even know where these countries are located. Perhaps he has heard that these are some kind of allies and partners, but he does not really understand why such partners are needed. Therefore, there is no need to introduce anything special here, but it can be emphasized that if the United States does this with Venezuela or will do this with Iran, we can do the same with Ukraine. Strengthen your internal sense of rightness, he says.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
