Two Russian military planes touched down outside the capital Caracas on Saturday carrying almost a hundred troops and military staff, and 35 tons of cargo, according to media reports.
One picture of a Russian-flagged aircraft posted on social media showed men in uniform clustered around the aircraft.
The Russian state oil firm Rosneft also holds a 49.9 percent stake in the Venezuelan-owned, US -based refinery Citgo following a $1.5 billion loan from the Russian company.
Moscow and Caracas have strengthened ties in recent months as the Kremlin continues to support President Nicolás Maduro and criticizes Western nations for backing Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó, who declared himself interim president in January.
U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Palladino said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday and said "the United States and regional countries will not stand idly by" while Russian Federation takes steps to support its ally, Maduro. Media earlier reported that an estimated 99 Russian military staff arrived in Caracas on board two planes, which also delivered 35 tonnes of cargo.
Pompeo urged Russian Federation to "cease its unconstructive behavior" and support Guaido.
Venezuela blamed an "attack" on its electric system for a blackout on Monday, the second to hit the OPEC nation this month, that shuttered businesses, plunged the main airport into darkness and left commuters stranded in the capital.
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Twenty-three countries voted in favor of the measure, with eight opposing it. Two Israeli soldiers have been killed over the same period.
'Russia has various contracts that are in the process of being fulfilled, contracts of a technical military character, ' Sputnik quoted the source as saying.
Venezuela's Information Ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
The report comes after the Trump administration placed biting sanctions on Venezuela's oil industry in an attempt to pressure Maduro into stepping down.
President Nicolas Maduro blamed the earlier blackout on cyber "sabotage" by his USA counterpart, Donald Trump, but former energy officials and local engineers told Reuters it was likely caused by a technical problem with transmission lines linking the Guri hydroelectric plant to the national power grid.
The Russian move may stymie, or at least slow, US efforts to change the Venezuelan government, but proponents of war and military action are still pushing forward with their plans.
Previous deliveries: Russian Federation already sent two Tu-160 strategic bombers to Venezuelain December to support Maduro.
Venezuela in February had blocked a convoy carrying humanitarian aid for the crisis-stricken country that was coordinated with the team of opposition leader Juan Guaido, including supplies provided by the United States, from entering via the border with Colombia.
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