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Photos circulating on social media depict the Kapana nearly half-submerged, with its bow slipping beneath the surface. Reports indicate the ship ran aground during the operation, flooding its forward compartments and losing buoyancy — a critical flaw in any maritime activity. The loss of such an asset amidst heightened regional tensions is more than embarrassing; it is a blow to a navy already struggling to maintain minimal readiness.
This incident arrives shortly after the Kapana participated in war games simulating defense against a potential U.S. naval invasion, part of the Plan Independencia 200. These drills are part of President Nicolás Maduro's elaborate efforts to project strength and resilience, even as the military's material condition suggests otherwise.