Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez is reportedly in Russia following the United States’ seizure of President Nicolás Maduro early Saturday morning, according to Reuters, citing four sources.

The sources told Reuters she traveled to Russia hours after Trump announced Maduro had been captured by U.S. forces in an attack on Venezuela’s capital, Caracas.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a phone conversation with Rodriguez on Saturday, in which he expressed solidarity with Venezuela in the “face of armed aggression,” Russia-state outlet Tass reported. Several outlets, however, have reported that Tass called Rodriguez’s presence in Russia “fake.”

Newsweek has reached out to Russia’s Foreign Ministry for comment via email on Saturday.

Why It Matters

Russia, a longtime ally of Venezuela, condemned the U.S. strikes in a Saturday statement, with the foreign ministry writing, Venezuela has the right to “determine its own future without destructive, let alone military, interference from outside.” Last year, Russia offered refuge to ousted longtime Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Parts of Caracas were hit by a U.S. “large scale strike.” Maduro, along with his wife, was captured and flown out of Venezuela following the U.S. military operation, Trump announced in a Truth Social post later on Saturday.

Maduro, his wife, and his son have been formally indicted in the Southern District of New York, including on charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said. The president had previously been indicted in March 2020 on “narco-terrorism” conspiracy charges in the Southern District of New York, and in August 2025, the U.S. doubled its bounty to $50 million for information leading to Maduro’s arrest. Maduro has denied any wrongdoing.

The operation comes after months of Trump’s large-scale U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean and South American waters, including the deployment of an aircraft carrier, fighter jets and tens of thousands of troops, as part of what his administration has framed as expanded counter-narcotics and sanctions enforcement.

What To Know

Maduro has repeatedly said the U.S.’s increasing pressure campaign, both military and diplomatic, on his government by the Trump administration, which included strikes on alleged narcotics vessels, was aimed at regime change. Under Venezuelan law, the country’s vice president, Rodríguez, would take power if Maduro had left the country, however, Reuters reported she is in Russia, leaving the country’s leadership in limbo.

Rodriguez’s brother, Jorge Rodriguez, head of the Venezuelan National Assembly, reportedly remained in Caracas, according to three sources with direct knowledge told Reuters.

Rodriguez addressed the nation in a televised audio message earlier on Saturday, demanding the Trump administration provide “proof of life” for President Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores.

The U.S. military operation ordered by Trump has intensified global tensions, spurred condemnation from Venezuela’s allies, and triggered uncertainty regarding the nation’s leadership and stability, particularly amid reports of Rodriguez out of the country.

This is a breaking news story. Updates to come.

Update 1/3/2026, 11:48 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.