Moscow: Russia on Saturday reaffirmed its support for the Venezuelan government and dismissed reports of Vice President Delcy Rodriguez's presence in the country as a "hoax" following a top-level phone call, the Foreign Ministry said. After speaking with Rodriguez, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed Russia's "firm solidarity with the people of Venezuela in the face of armed aggression," the ministry said in a statement regarding the conversation.

According to Anadolu Agency, the ministry separately told state-run news agency Tass that recent claims suggesting Rodriguez was physically present in Russia were false. This statement came amidst a backdrop of escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela.

President Donald Trump announced early Saturday that the US had "successfully" carried out a "large scale strike" against Venezuela, claiming that President Nicolas Maduro and his wife had been "captured and flown out of the country." These developments follow months of strained relations, with the US accusing Maduro of involvement in drug trafficking, allegations which he has consistently denied. In response, Caracas accused the US of targeting civilian and military installations across multiple states, leading to a declaration of national emergency.

Following the discussion between Lavrov and Rodriguez, Moscow emphasized its continued support for the political course of the Venezuelan government, reinforcing its commitment to backing Venezuela amidst international pressure.