2023-08-23 19:11:00
The senior Russian general who disappeared following the rebellion of the Wagner mercenary group was fired as head of the aerospace forces
General Sergei Surovikin, the former head of Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine, has been removed from his position as head of the Russian aerospace forces, state media reported on Wednesday, citing anonymous sources.
Surovikin — known in Russia as “General Armageddon” due to allegations of his brutality — has not been seen in public since the short-lived riot led by the head of Wagner’s mercenaries, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in June, fueling rumors. unconfirmed regarding his arrest.
Documents shared exclusively with CNN in June suggest that Surovikin was among at least 30 other senior Russian military and intelligence officials who were secret Wagner VIPs.
As reported by RIA Novosti, Surovikin was replaced by General Viktor Afzalov, Chief of the General Staff of the Aerospace Forces.
“Former Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces Sergei Surovikin has been relieved of his post. Colonel-General Viktor Afzalov, Chief of the General Staff of the Aerospace Forces, temporarily holds the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces “, an anonymous source told RIA.
The news of Surovikin’s removal was first reported by prominent Russian journalist and former director of the now-defunct Echo of Moscow radio station, Alexey Venediktov.
The journalist published this Tuesday on his Telegram channel that Surovikin had been relieved of his position, but that he would continue to serve the Ministry of Defense in another capacity.
According to sources cited by the Russian economic information outlet RBC, Surovikin’s dismissal is due to a transfer to another function, and he affirms that he is currently on a short vacation.
Surovikin’s official biography on the Russian Defense Ministry website still lists him as head of the aerospace forces.
CNN has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry for comment.
Surovikin was appointed general commander of the Russian military operations in Ukraine last October. In January, the role was reassigned to General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff, and Surovikin was made one of three deputies to him.
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