UPDATE 1-Russian deployment in Venezuela includes 'cybersecurity personnel' -U.S. official

The Russian military contingent that arrived in Venezuela over the weekend, drawing U.S. condemnation, is believed to be made up of special forces, including "cybersecurity personnel," a U.S. official told Reuters on Tuesday. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the United States was still assessing the Russian deployment, which Washington has called a "reckless escalation" of the situation in Venezuela.

Two Russian air force planes landed outside Caracas on Saturday carrying nearly 100 Russian troops, according to local media reports, two months after the Trump administration disavowed President Nicolas Maduro. The Trump administration has recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country's legitimate president and demands that Maduro step down. Russia has described this as a U.S.-backed coup against the socialist government.

The U.S. assessment that the Russian contingent includes cybersecurity specialists and those from "related fields" suggests that part of their mission could be helping Maduro's loyalists with surveillance as well as protection of the government's cyber infrastructure. (Editing by Leslie Adler and Richard Chang)