‘Maybe it’s time we started hiring American generals?’

Russia’s pro-war bloggers on the U.S. operation in Venezuela

On January 3, the United States carried out a military operation against Venezuela, Moscow’s closest ally in South America. The country’s president, Nicolás Maduro, was captured by U.S. special forces and taken out of the country. It didn’t take long for Russia’s pro-war Z-bloggers to start sharing their opinions on the operation — from complaints about double standards to grudging admiration. Meduza has compiled some of the most notable reactions from the Russian pro-war blogosphere.

Zakhar Prilepin

Russian ultranationalist writer

This is a violation of every conceivable norm of global coexistence. Bombing the capital of a neighboring state just because “I’m hungry.” […]

You’d think the Venezuelan army might at least shoot down one American helicopter over its own capital. No? Or did they not expect they’d fly in? You’d also think that the progressive forces of the world — meaning us, China, North Korea, and all of BRICS — might finally bare their diplomatic teeth and defend Venezuela’s sovereignty. Just as the white European, Canadian, Australian, and American gentlemen previously defended Ukraine’s sovereignty. (And they really did defend it.) Or is the situation with Maduro also a surprise for BRICS — and for us?

Colonelcassad

Telegram channel run by military blogger Boris Rozhin

Broadly speaking, an attack on Venezuela is a blow against the Global South. A blow to China’s interests. A blow to Russia’s interests. The war over the redistribution of the world order will only intensify — and it is, of course, not confined to the Ukrainian theater alone.

Yevgeny Poddubny

Pro-Kremlin war blogger

It’s been clear for a long time that we live in a world where there is only one real law: the law of the strong. That’s what neocolonialism looks like. Russia, for its part, advocates and fights for a different world order.

According to Trump’s own statements, the Americans have kidnapped Maduro and his wife. They simply abducted the president of an independent country. And there’s no outrage, no sanctions, no canceling of American culture.

Yury Kotenok

Pro-Kremlin war blogger

The Americans in Venezuela are copying the actions of Russian special forces during the first hours of the “special military operation” in Hostomel in 2022. A foothold for expanding the operation has been established and is being held. Unlike the Hostomel operation, however, the Americans are encountering no meaningful resistance from the security forces of the Bolivarian Republic — whether due to betrayal, paralysis, or both.

Two Majors

Pro-war Telegram channel

Jokes aside, and without any unnecessary reverence for the yanks, they carried out the operation competently. It’s unlikely they managed this without traitors inside the country — Maduro wasn’t exactly living in a bungalow.

This is probably how our own “special military operation” was originally envisioned as well: fast, spectacular, and effective. It’s hard to believe [Russian Army General Staff Chief Valery] Gerasimov planned to be fighting for four years.

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Military Informant

Pro-war Telegram channel

In effect, a textbook “special military operation,” with limited objectives and limited involvement: they flew in, got the job done, and flew out.

Rybar

Pro-war Telegram channel

Against the backdrop of news from Venezuela, some outlets — and a number of especially odious figures — have predictably rushed to draw parallels with events in so-called Ukraine, along the lines of “this is how a special military operation should be conducted.”

To be fair, we ourselves would point out that there were certain things the United States did in a textbook fashion — starting with the formation of a sufficiently large force and close attention to every aspect of combat support. That said, the operations are fundamentally different in almost every respect, beginning with their objectives. […]

If we really want things “done like the Americans,” the first step is to understand exactly what we want — and what we are actually capable of doing in practice. Without sober analysis, there can be no sound conclusions. And without conclusions, we’ll keep stepping on the same rake.

Vitaly Demidkin

Veteran of the FSB’s Alpha Group

They acted illegally, inhumanely, and in violation of state sovereignty — but, I suppose, it worked. To my mind, the operation wasn’t anything extraordinary, more so-so. There was no resistance whatsoever. They went in quickly, apparently bribed everyone, found people willing to sell out — and that was it: doors were opened for them. […]

Our guys are superior across the board. […] We could easily abduct Zelensky, but we adhere to international law. That’s why we haven’t taken such actions — for now. But if there were an order from the supreme commander-in-chief, I think it would be easy. Study the target, track down his location, and simply take him.

Donetsk Infantry

Pro-Kremlin Telegram channel

[Former Russian Defense Minister Sergey] Shoigu and Gerasimov, along with the FSB, SVR, and GRU generals, are watching this and asking: “Wait, you can just do it like that?”

DShRG Rusich

Telegram channel run by the Rusich paramilitary group

Maybe it’s time we started hiring American generals and planners to serve Russia?

SHAKESPEARE

Telegram channel run by military blogger Pavel Rasta

They simply wiped out the political leadership of a sovereign, independent country. And all this against the backdrop of our “tough response to Ukraine,” which we’re still waiting for in the fourth year of the war — and might never see. Right now, I feel just one thing: shame. I’m ashamed, guys. Not for Venezuela. And certainly not for the U.S.

Callsign OSETIN

Pro-war Telegram channel

They captured the president of a foreign country and his family on the very first day. Everyone’s tongues are up their asses. “This is different.” And here we are — fighting into the fourth year…

Cover photo: Leonardo Fernandez Viloria / AP / Scanpix / LETA