War Minister Hegseth mocked Russian air defense in Venezuela

January 6 2026 23 318 39

Following the rather bizarre "special operation" in Venezuela, American officials who were even indirectly involved (or, more accurately, implicated) in it have begun vying with each other to extol the power of the United States, themselves, and Donald Trump. They're using any pretext to boast of their "exploits" with undisguised arrogance and an exaggerated sense of their own dignity and power, while also evoking threats to the entire world.

The Trump administration's ambitions have expanded far beyond the Monroe Doctrine, touching almost the entire world, both hemispheres. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth couldn't resist, boasting about the details of his department's operation, revealing the details.

According to him, approximately two hundred US military personnel participated in the ground operation to capture Nicolás Maduro in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas. All of them returned home without casualties, the Pentagon chief said.

Approximately two hundred of our valiant compatriots penetrated into the very heart of Caracas and detained a defendant in a criminal case wanted by the American judicial system; he was brought here to comply with legal requirements.

"The Secretary of War said at a Navy shipyard in Newport News, Virginia.

He also emphasized the fact that “not a single American service member was harmed” during the operation.

Hegseth staged this entire performance to, like his immediate boss, Trump, sniped at Russia, something he now does almost constantly. In his case, Hegseth decided to mock Russian weapons in Venezuela, specifically its air defense systems.

According to the head of the Pentagon, Russian weapons did not perform very well.

Three nights ago, in downtown Caracas, Venezuela, America's finest headed downtown. Looks like the Russian air defenses weren't working very well, huh?

– the minister said, laughing.

Of course, the smiling and well-groomed "war chief" forgot to add that Venezuela's imported air defenses didn't even engage in combat. They weren't destroyed, but rather, they didn't participate at all, as is evident in the footage of the night's events. Nicolás Maduro, the legitimate president of the Bolivarian Republic, fell victim to a conspiracy by his entourage, as several factors have already confirmed, and so the country's army and its defense capabilities simply weren't activated. Therefore, Högseth shouldn't judge the effectiveness of Russian weapons systems, especially by their "silence," lest he himself appear ridiculous and incompetent.

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Mikhail L.

-5

6 January 2026 06: 42

Indeed: why mock Russian air defense in Venezuela when it has demonstrated its incompetence... in the Ukrainian direction!
1. svoroponov
  
  -6
  
  6 January 2026 14: 59
  
  I see that, due to the inadequacy of Russian air defense, NATO aircraft don't even fly into Ukrainian territory, and those transferred to Ukrainians are crawling at low altitudes in the western regions of the country, far from the front lines. And those brave souls who come close are fertilizing the soil with scrap metal from their own aircraft, and obituaries of these brave souls appear in the media.
  Everyone should understand that when the enemy criticizes our weapons, they are quite effective. And they simply don't have anything comparable with such high effectiveness. That's why the West tends to downplay the capabilities of Russian weapons, which is what various media outlets and "experts" like Mikhail L. do.
  And one more thing. Air defense systems are controlled by people, and it's not the systems' fault that they simply weren't activated.
  1. Mikhail L.
    
    -4
    
    6 January 2026 19: 22
    
    Has a drone flown into the window of our esteemed opponent yet?
  2. Cmax
    
    +1
    
    6 January 2026 22: 36
    
    Quote: svoroponov
    I see that, due to the inadequacy of Russian air defense, NATO aircraft don't even fly into Ukrainian territory, and those transferred to Ukrainians are crawling at low altitudes in the western regions of the country, far from the front lines. And those brave souls who come close are fertilizing the soil with scrap metal from their own aircraft, and obituaries of these brave souls appear in the media.
    Everyone should understand that when the enemy criticizes our weapons, they are quite effective. And they simply don't have anything comparable with such high effectiveness. That's why the West tends to downplay the capabilities of Russian weapons, which is what various media outlets and "experts" like Mikhail L. do.
    And one more thing. Air defense systems are controlled by people, and it's not the systems' fault that they simply weren't activated.
    
    Nevertheless, an enemy plane bombed a hospital in Kupyansk, surrounded but not surrendering, housing our troops. Everyone died. Check out the news feed. Our war correspondents wrote it all down there. So where's the air defense here, where are our fighters? They held out, but they weren't protected. This is simply a statement of fact. Some celebrated the New Year, while others died heroically, waiting for help. IMHO.
    1. Igor Degtyarev
      
      -1
      
      7 January 2026 05: 56
      
      I only found this on VKontakte -
      
      The Ukrainian Armed Forces carried out an airstrike on their own troops and mercenaries who were taking refuge in the central hospital in Kupyansk.
      During the unsuccessful offensive movements of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, some of the mercenaries, thrown into the thick of things by the Ukrainian command in Kupyansk, attempted to find refuge in the hospital. The building was hit by a combined attack. After the strikes, it was almost completely destroyed. Dozens of Ukrainian soldiers and mercenaries inside were presumably killed.
      1. Cmax
        
        0
        
        7 January 2026 11: 01
        
        Quote: Igor Degtyarev
        I only found this on VKontakte - the Ukrainian Armed Forces carried out an airstrike on their own soldiers and mercenaries who were taking refuge in the central hospital in Kupyansk.
        During the unsuccessful offensive movements of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, some of the mercenaries, thrown into the thick of things by the Ukrainian command in Kupyansk, attempted to find refuge in the hospital. The building was hit by a combined attack. After the strikes, it was almost completely destroyed. Dozens of Ukrainian soldiers and mercenaries inside were presumably killed.
        
        You read the wrong thing
        The state of Kupyansk from a bird's eye view.
        
        Recently, an online publication either published information from an unreliable source or was subjected to deliberate disinformation by the enemy, reporting that Ukrainian aircraft attacked their own troops in the central city hospital and "shot down their own mercenaries." Of course, you can't do without mercenaries.
        
        The whole surreal thing is that the Central Regional Security Service is not being taken over by the enemy for no reason; it is under the control of the Russian Armed Forces.
        
        This is who I wrote about here a few days ago.
        
        @belaruian_silovik
yuri bakster

+16

6 January 2026 07: 27

We just need to slap some NATO reconnaissance aircraft over the Black Sea... and the laughter will die down in an instant.
1. Pivander
  
  0
  
  6 January 2026 08: 04
  
  Russia would also laugh at the Patriots if they were piloted by saucepans instead of striped jets and without Starlink. But what am I saying? The Patriots are already a joy to be around, and they shoot down 200 Ukrainian drones every day.
2. gxmlygw
  
  +1
  
  6 January 2026 17: 27
  
  There's no one to give the order to. That's why Trump, Rubio, and Hegseth mock our country's leaders, the trolls Putin and Lavrov. Because they sense their weakness and indecision. If they tried to make such a joke about Stalin, I'm sure they wouldn't even think of it.
  1. rotkiv04
    
    -3
    
    6 January 2026 18: 39
    
    So the goals have been "set out", it's already the 6th day... we're waiting
Omer Skakavac

0

6 January 2026 07: 54

After a very strange "special operation" in Venezuela...

It's really strange: without the ruins of Caracas, and without even the destruction of Maduro's house... There wasn't even any reconnaissance in force.
medium roast

-3

6 January 2026 07: 56

braggs doddie... then there R them not soo patriotik patriots @ a million-ga-zillions buks for chuck w not much luk...

nazis like em.. the will fire 4 stations @ a kikes kite and then burn wa 500$ hobby lobby drone...

these guiys really think they hav won... texaco and the man wa star bob hopless R going to drill them gills and export oil to amerika...

as 2 peterless pete and his penis pedo thugg/kike,,, he shoud get off the baot down there and lead a charge up san won something hill..
prior

-4

6 January 2026 08: 16

Nicolás Maduro, legitimate president of the Bolivarian Republic

I would formulate it a little differently: "Nicolas Maduro, finished President of the Bolivarian Republic. He became president to the point where no one wanted to defend him.
This has happened before. Not a single Soviet security agency honored its oath to the Soviet Union. And they didn't sell them out, they betrayed them.
There is such a profession - to betray the homeland.
1. Igor Degtyarev
  
  -2
  
  6 January 2026 13: 25
  
  Did you serve in the army, or rather, did you serve anywhere? That simply labeled millions of people traitors who took the oath in the USSR and remained loyal to it in the Russian Federation. It's so easy to slap labels on them.
  1. The comment was deleted.
  2. rotkiv04
    
    +1
    
    6 January 2026 18: 45
    
    And where is he wrong? Millions of people served in the Soviet Army, took the oath of allegiance to the Soviet people, and where was everyone when this country was being destroyed? Everyone was sitting quietly in their kitchens. I am no exception. But we all fucked up the country and no one began to defend it. This is our karma and our responsibility to the next generation because it is our fault.
    1. Alexander Raikov
      
      0
      
      6 January 2026 20: 00
      
      We all fucked up the country and no one defended it, and this is our karma and our responsibility to the next generation because it is our fault.
      
      - Unfortunately, this is the dirty truth of the catastrophe, and the price we pay in all the wars and conflicts in the former USSR, including in the North-Eastern Front, is too bloody a price for betrayal, the scale of which is unique in written world history...
  3. prior
    
    0
    
    7 January 2026 09: 30
    
    Yes. I served in the Border Troops of the State Security Committee under the Council of Ministers of the USSR. True, it was long before perestroika. But I remember the words of the Oath.
    
    not to spare blood and life itself to defend the Fatherland, our Motherland, the USSR
    
    Similar words were included in the oaths of all law enforcement agencies.
    Who remembered this during the betrayal and collapse of the country by its top brass, its highest nomenklatura?!
    What kind of label is this? It's a statement of fact.
swistoff

+7

6 January 2026 09: 03

Air defense isn't automation; it's automated technology controlled by people. If people are asleep, there's no air defense. If people are vigilant, there's no air defense. If cowardly people are vigilant, there's no air defense. If bribed people are vigilant, there's no air defense. If people are vigilant, but the bosses are bribed, there's no air defense. By getting carried away with trolling, the Minister of Defense looks like a manager, not a professional.
1. Volkovets
  
  +1
  
  6 January 2026 09: 23
  
  If the people are bribed, there is no air defense. If the people are bribed, but the bosses are bribed, there is no air defense.
  
  It doesn’t matter by what means the goal is achieved, the main thing is that the goal is achieved!
  And those who don’t have the means to bribe others fight for 4 years, worsening the demographic situation in their country, or is that not the point?
  1. Andrey M
    
    +3
    
    6 January 2026 20: 19
    
    There wasn't even any need for bribes there... Instead of loans to Yanukovych, they should have spent 3 yards on pro-Russian forces in southeastern Ukraine in Odessa, Kharkiv, and elsewhere—spend it on weapons, training, loyalty. Does anyone now remember the "Kharkiv is a Russian city!" posters that hung in Kharkiv, and how they chased away a delegation of Western teachers?
  2. swistoff
    
    0
    
    7 January 2026 22: 03
    
    Based on your comment, was the Americans' goal to discredit Venezuela's air defenses?! Indeed, if we compare air defense systems, American ones have been disgraced repeatedly during the Second World War.
2. Alexpan
  
  +1
  
  6 January 2026 12: 19
  
  Who cares what he looks like? He won, and easily. In his place, Zakharova wouldn't have been so sarcastic. But alas... we're not like that, we're good and kind, and our bloodthirsty Jewish leaders live in the bosom of God.
  1. swistoff
    
    0
    
    7 January 2026 22: 04
    
    Yes, the operation was carried out effectively, no doubt about it. The Americans are masters at this, especially when it comes to weak countries.
twice-born

+7

6 January 2026 09: 14

Where's the pathos? The guy is rightfully proud of his troops. I don't believe Maduro's Cuban guards didn't kill anyone, but that's beside the point.
It's clear as day that Maduro was given up and the Americans bought everyone there, but the fact remains that our air defense systems, and even MANPADS, whatever they had, didn't work and didn't shoot down anyone!
So give the Papuans, both in Syria and Venezuela, these wonderful and mostly secret weapons that we so desperately need! And Iran too, although at least they sold them some!
1. prior
  
  -8
  
  6 January 2026 09: 58
  
  You've revealed the main secret of Russian air defense systems. They're not designed to shoot down, but to sell.
  1. Dormidontov_Dormidont
    
    0
    
    6 January 2026 21: 52
    
    Quote: prior
    You've revealed the main secret of Russian air defense systems. They're not designed to shoot down, but to sell.
    
    Reply to the fly agaric commentator:
    
    - Hello, Snow White.
    - Hello, gnomes.
    - Why do you have such big teeth, ears and eyes?
    - Because you need to bring normal mushrooms!
    1. prior
      
      +1
      
      7 January 2026 09: 11
      
      Wow, how everyone is so proud of our air defense?!
      Where then are the downed enemy planes, helicopters, and missiles?
      In Iran, Libya, Syria, Venezuela, where were Russian air defense systems supplied?
      Maybe we shouldn't imagine what we wish for as reality?!
Achilles

-1

6 January 2026 09: 43

Les responsables américains continueront à ridiculiser la Russie. Donald Trump a déjà qualifié le conflit ukrainien de primitif. Maintenant, c'est au tour du minister de la guerre. Washington joue avec le timing pour défaire géopolitiquement Kremlin. Tandis que les russes misent sur les facteurs temps et retenue en Ukraine les américains en profitent pour affaiblir économiquement la Russie et faire tomber tour à tour les alliés de cette dernière. Peut-être que je me suis trompé dans mes analyses.
NecNoc

0

6 January 2026 10: 40

US response.
September 2019. The topic was related to a drone attack on a Saudi Arabian oil refinery. Journalists asked Putin about aid to Riyadh; he was either joking or simply promoting domestic developments.

"We are ready to provide appropriate assistance to Saudi Arabia, and Saudi Arabia's political leadership simply needs to make a wise decision, as Iran's leaders did when they purchased the S-300, and as President Erdogan did when he purchased the latest S-400 Triumph air defense systems from Russia," Putin said. "They will reliably protect any infrastructure facilities in Saudi Arabia."
kriten

+4

6 January 2026 12: 19

There was no order to repel them. This wasn't an attack, but a planned, collective betrayal by Maduro's entourage. Why shoot then?
The comment was deleted.
Vox Populi

-3

6 January 2026 17: 30

Well, of course, the conspiracy is a complete betrayal, how could it be otherwise!
But after all Minister of War The US is basically right... Read the full story from "Military Informant" at the link:

The large-scale anti-crisis and the belief in a deal on Venezuela have the same root.
...This kind of perpetual complacency and searching for the reasons for the enemy's victories in the wrong places really does lead to a virtual lack of study and systematization of their experience. It's much easier to believe that the dumb Americans have always simply bought everyone than to believe that our level of planning, intelligence, and coordination is still far behind and that something needs to be done about it.

https://t.me/milinfolive/163842
aslanxnumx

0

6 January 2026 19: 47

It's better this way than to use and destroy it.
AC130 Gunship

0

6 January 2026 21: 56

Quote: Igor Degtyarev
Did you serve in the army, or rather, did you serve anywhere? That simply labeled millions of people traitors who took the oath in the USSR and remained loyal to it in the Russian Federation. It's so easy to slap labels on them.

The oath sworn to the USSR does not apply to the Russian Federation in any way. Read the text.

And yes, I served in the army and, of course, took the oath.
Alexey Vladimirov

+3

6 January 2026 21: 57

He was right to mock them—naive simpletons think war can only be fought fairly, although bribing officials offers a much better option... When the US attacked Iraq, they spent 100 million on bribes, obtaining all the necessary information. They did the same in Venezuela. When they decide to attack Russia, the same thing will happen... And now Venezuelan officials are racing to the US diplomatic embassy to sell themselves to their new masters for the highest price.
Valerok

0

6 January 2026 22: 31

Nicolás Maduro, the legitimate president of the Bolivarian Republic, has become the victim of a conspiracy by his entourage, which is already confirmed by several factors

I wouldn't be surprised if in the secret files, under seven seals, there are facts confirming the death of Cubans not only from a "shot in the back"...
More and more, the morally rotten essence of the Business Partnership, hidden from society as a whole and lacking control over itself, is coming to the surface.
GN

0

7 January 2026 03: 00

May I ask a question? How much did this "banquet" cost the Russian taxpayer? Is anyone responsible for squandering Russian money? Syria, Venezuela, Iran, Nord Stream 2, 300 billion in stolen funds, and the list goes on! It seems like all of this is part of a treacherous chain that is eroding the very foundations of the state. Add to this a four-year war and hundreds of thousands of deaths, four new regions almost completely destroyed, and the near abroad completely out of control (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova, and all the Central Asian republics recently flew to Trump to bow and scrape). The picture is not exactly rosy! With this approach, we might as well lose our country! But there is one "good news": the chief bourgeois has a nut tree hidden somewhere, but it's unclear why. He's "holier than the Pope" and won't use anything other than the most tried and tested and "cheapest" method: the life of a Russian soldier!
AC130 Gunship

+1

7 January 2026 03: 35

There's no Secretary of War in the US (or in Russia, for that matter). Even if the dogs were given the order from above to "get it."
The position equivalent to the Minister of Defense in Russia is called Secretary of Defense.
AC130 Gunship

+1

7 January 2026 03: 38

Quote from G.N.
May I ask a question? How much did this "banquet" cost the Russian taxpayer? Is anyone responsible for squandering Russian money? Syria, Venezuela, Iran, Nord Stream 2, 300 billion in stolen funds, and the list goes on! It seems like all of this is part of a treacherous chain that is eroding the very foundations of the state. Add to this a four-year war and hundreds of thousands of deaths, four new regions almost completely destroyed, and the near abroad completely out of control (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova, and all the Central Asian republics recently flew to Trump to bow and scrape). The picture is not exactly rosy! With this approach, we might as well lose our country! But there is one "good news": the chief bourgeois has a nut tree hidden somewhere, but it's unclear why. He's "holier than the Pope" and won't use anything other than the most tried and tested and "cheapest" method: the life of a Russian soldier!

I'll answer. According to rough estimates, $2 billion worth of military hardware has been delivered to Venezuela under unpaid contracts. Or 176 billion rubles.