The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) accused on Monday the intelligence services of an unidentified Western country of preparing, alongside Ukraine, an alleged covert operation to link Moscow with the illegal supply of weapons to drug cartels and criminal organizations in Venezuela, Colombia, and Mexico.
The serious accusation was disseminated by the Russian Foreign Ministry through its official channels on X and Telegram. However, the SVR did not provide verifiable evidence to demonstrate the existence of the alleged plan, and so far, there is no independent confirmation of Moscow's claims.
"It is planned to accuse Russia of supplying illegal weapons to drug cartels and organized crime groups operating in Venezuela, Colombia, and Mexico," states the statement.
According to the Russian intelligence agency's account, the operation would involve the transfer of Russian-manufactured weapons captured by Ukrainian forces during the war to Latin America, which would then be presented as evidence of supplies coming from Moscow.
The SVR also asserts that those responsible would prepare fake audio and video recordings to simulate deliveries through intermediaries, as well as forged documents intended to implicate representatives of the Russian Armed Forces.
Moscow did not specify when the alleged operation would have started, which agencies would be involved, nor did it provide documentary evidence to support its accusation.
Moscow accuses the West but does not identify the country
The SVR merely pointed to the intelligence services of "a Western country" and argued that the alleged setup aims to undermine Russia's influence in a region where the Kremlin maintains close relations with several governments.
The objective would be "to undermine Russia's constructive relationships with the countries in the region and induce Latin American governments to support the anti-Russian policy practiced by the West," he stated.
Accusations should be taken with caution. Ukraine's Center for Combating Disinformation has previously pointed out the "sensational revelations" spread by the SVR as part of a pattern of misinformation narratives, while the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) deemed other claims made by Russian foreign intelligence in 2025 against Ukraine, Poland, and the United Kingdom as "unfounded."
The statement also comes amidst a growing confrontation between Moscow and Washington over Russian influence in the Western Hemisphere, with Cuba and Venezuela among the main points of tension.
In February, Russia accused the United States of an "aggressive provocation" following a shooting in Cuban waters that left four dead.
Washington, for its part, has intensified its accusations regarding Moscow's activities in Cuba. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has accused the Cuban regime of serving Russia and allowing the establishment of facilities on the island connected to Russian and Chinese intelligence efforts.
A report from the State Department identified 18 facilities related to intelligence activities of Russia and China in Cuba and noted that their staff has reportedly tripled since 2023.
Russia references Bucha and an episode that preceded World War II
To reinforce its accusation, the SVR compared the alleged operation in Latin America with two very different historical episodes.
The organization once again presented the Bucha massacre, in Ukraine, in April 2022, as a "staging," in line with the narrative upheld by the Kremlin. International investigations and evidence gathered on the ground have attributed the deaths of civilians during the occupation of the city to Russian forces, leading to Moscow's characterization being widely rejected outside of Russia.
The SVR also recalled the Gleiwitz provocation, which took place on August 31, 1939, when members of the Nazi SS staged a Polish attack against a German broadcaster. Adolf Hitler used incidents like this as a propaganda pretext to justify the invasion of Poland, which began the following day and triggered World War II in Europe.
With these references, Moscow is attempting to portray the alleged plan now being denounced as a "false flag" operation intended to create a political pretext against Russia.
Latin America, another stage in the dispute between Russia and the West
The statement gains significance due to the influence Latin America has gained in the geopolitical confrontation between Moscow and Washington.
Russia has maintained close military and security ties with Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua for years, with these countries being among its main allies in the region. These relationships have included arms sales, technical assistance, military cooperation, and training.
At the same time, Moscow has been identified as conducting influence and propaganda operations in Latin America. A study released in June documented Russian disinformation networks present in 13 countries in the region, aimed at amplifying narratives favorable to the Kremlin and critical of the United States and other Western democracies.
That background adds a significant element to the new accusation from the SVR: while Moscow now denounces an alleged Western operation of information manipulation in Latin America, Russia has faced accusations for years of using precisely influence campaigns and disinformation as instruments of its foreign policy.
For now, the alleged plot to introduce Russian weapons into Venezuela, Colombia, and Mexico exists solely in the version presented by Moscow's intelligence, with no public evidence available to verify it independently.
The SVR concluded its statement with a warning directed at the alleged perpetrators: "The subsequent course of history shows that the price of such setups can be extremely high, particularly for the organizers themselves."
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