In a dramatic and rapidly evolving international crisis on Saturday, January 3, 2026, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has been reported to be in Russia amid allegations by the United States that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and removed from Venezuela following a large-scale U.S. military operation.
According to multiple sources familiar with her movements, Rodríguez, who serves as Venezuela’s Vice President and Oil Minister, is currently in Moscow, a key ally and strategic partner of Caracas. This development comes as the Venezuelan government scrambles to respond to U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that Maduro has been captured and flown out of the country.
Українські Національні Новини (УНН) +1
In audio statements aired on Venezuelan state television, Rodríguez confirmed that the government does not know the whereabouts of Maduro and his wife, First Lady Cilia Flores, demanding that the U.S. provide “proof of life.” She described the situation as deeply alarming and denounced what Caracas calls a brutal attack on Venezuelan sovereignty.
The Venezuelan government has declared a national state of emergency, while Rodríguez’s presence abroad adds a layer of complexity to the unfolding crisis. The fact that she is reported to be in Russia — a country that has been one of Venezuela’s staunchest backers politically, militarily, and economically — underscores how the situation has quickly become a global flashpoint.
However, the Russian Foreign Ministry has issued a denial of the reports that Rodríguez is in Russia, labeling these claims as “fake,” even as Moscow has publicly condemned the U.S. actions as an unacceptable violation of Venezuelan sovereignty.
Russia’s official reaction to the news of Maduro’s reported capture has been stern, with the Foreign Ministry calling for clarification of the circumstances surrounding the U.S. operation. Moscow insists that if Maduro was indeed taken out of Venezuela without sovereign consent, this would represent a serious breach of international law and an encroachment on Venezuelan independence.
International reactions are pouring in, with global powers sharply divided: some condemn the U.S. strikes as imperialist aggression, while others see the removal of Maduro as a potential step toward political change. Meanwhile, the fate of Venezuela’s leadership and the true status of Delcy Rodríguez’s mission in Russia remain central questions as this unprecedented story continues to unfold.
