RUSSIA'S SHADOW STILL FALLS OVER VENEZUELA
Russia has spent over 20 years embedding itself in Venezuela's military, energy, and political infrastructure and cultivating personal relationships, institutional connections, and commercial ties to the country's political leadership. Moscow's connections extend to Delcy Rodriguez, Venezuela's interim leader after the Trump administration's early January capture of strongman Nicolas Maduro. These deep connections likely will be difficult to dismantle - although it remains to be seen how much a presence Russia can preserve there, especially as Washington signals that it intends to control Venezuela's oil sales.
Russia's failure to react meaningfully to Maduro's capture, meanwhile, casts doubt on the durability the alliance between the two countries. But Moscow's muted reaction may reflect a different political calculus. The Kremlin, RFE/RL posits, may have tempered its reaction in hopes that the U.S. would exchange a Russian acceptance of U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere in exchange for a freer hand vis-à-vis Ukraine and Europe. (Radio Free Europe, January 14, 2026)
RUSSIA REEMERGES IN SYRIA
The overthrow of the regime of Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad at the hands of Islamist opposition was a potentially dire development for Moscow, which had established a decades-long strategic partnership with Damascus. But a year on, the Kremlin is faring better than expected in the new Syrian order. A new study from Israel's Institute for National Security Studies details that "a renewed rapprochement between Russia and Syria — particularly in the security sphere — has become apparent."
The new warmth is the product of concerted Russian diplomacy. In response to Syrian distrust, "confidence-building steps were taken from the early months of al-Sharaa's rule, including shipments of wheat and fuel; diplomatic outreach and high-level delegations (including a senior delegation from the Foreign Ministry, letters, and phone calls from President Vladimir Putin)," the INSS study notes. "These overtures included proposals for economic and humanitarian cooperation, such as rehabilitating Syrian energy infrastructure, increasing material and food assistance, and even the idea of turning Khmeimim and Tartus into humanitarian aid 'hubs.'"
The Kremlin's strategy is clear. “Russia's operational logic vis-à-vis al-Sharaa is to stabilize its regional standing under the new conditions. In exchange for re-anchoring presence agreements — first and foremost at its permanent coastal bases, and likely also through economic projects — Moscow appears to offer Damascus solutions to its military distress. These include support services for the army (repairs, training, arms procurement), security coordination, and further support measures that could indirectly affect Israel's freedom of action against Syria, whether through nominal force deployment or by other means." (INSS, January 19, 2026)
SPY NUNS IN SWEDEN
Nuns from St. Elisabeth Convent in Belarus were reportedly active in 20 churches across Sweden selling souvenirs in Swedish parishes to covertly support Russian military units involved in the war in Ukraine. The Church of Sweden has accused the convent's representatives of using religious spaces to promote Russian nationalism and fund Russian aggression in Ukraine. The Church also alleged that the convent had ties to the GRU, Russia's military intelligence service. Swedish security services are also investigating the Orthodox Church in Västerås, situated about 1,000 feet from the Stockholm-Västerås Airport, as a potential location for Russian reconnaissance operations against Sweden. (United24, January 18, 2026)
AIRLINE SHORTAGES AND OLD AIRCRAFT
Russian airlines will receive retired Soviet- and Russian-made aircraft in 2026 and 2027 to prop up the country's collapsing airline fleets. Russia is facing a growing shortage of aircraft as a result Western sanctions, and the problem has persisted despite government efforts to replace foreign planes with domestically produced models. The Russian aircraft industry failed to produce the expected 127 aircraft between 2023 and 2025, churning out only thirteen during the three-year period. As a result, Russian-state industrial conglomerate Rostec is providing the civilian aircraft industry with twelve retired aircraft in order to keep up with passenger traffic. (The Moscow Times, January 19, 2026)