Current:Home > MarketsRussia's "General Armageddon" reportedly dismissed after vanishing in wake of Wagner uprising-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Russia's "General Armageddon" reportedly dismissed after vanishing in wake of Wagner uprising
View Date:2024-12-23 16:12:09
General Sergei Surovikin, a former commander of Russia's forces in Ukraine who was linked to the leader of an armed rebellion, has been dismissed from his job as chief of the air force, according to Russian state media. The report Wednesday came after weeks of uncertainty about his fate following the short-lived uprising.
Surovikin has not been seen in public since armed rebels marched toward Moscow in June, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the chief of the Wagner mercenary group. In a video released during the uprising, Surovikin urged Prigozhin's men to pull back.
During his long absence, Russian media have speculated about Surovikin's whereabouts, with some claiming he had been detained due to his purported close ties to Prigozhin.
Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, citing an anonymous source, reported that Surovikin has been replaced as commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces by Colonel General Viktor Afzalov, who is currently head of the main staff of the air force.
The agency frequently represents the official position of the Kremlin through reports citing anonymous officials in Russia's defense and security establishment.
The Russian government has not commented on the report, and The Associated Press was not able to confirm it independently.
Russian daily newspaper RBC wrote that Surovikin is being transferred to a new job and is now on vacation.
Alexei Venediktov, the former head of the now-closed radio station Ekho Moskvy, and Ksenia Sobchak, the daughter of a politician linked to President Vladimir Putin, both wrote on social media Tuesday that Surovikin had been removed.
In late June, Surovikin's daughter told the Russian social media channel Baza that her father had not been arrested.
The Wagner uprising posed the most serious challenge to Putin's 23-year rule and reports circulated that Surovikin had known about it in advance.
According to Sobchak, Surovikin was removed from his post Aug. 18 "by a closed decree. The family still has no contact with him."
Surovikin was dubbed "General Armageddon" for his brutal military campaign in Syria and led Russia's operations in Ukraine between October 2022 and January 2023. Under his command, Russian forces unleashed regular missile barrages on Ukrainian cities, significantly damaging civilian infrastructure and disrupting heating, electricity and water supplies.
Both Surovikin and Prigozhin were both active in Syria, where Russian forces have fought to shore up Syrian President Bashar Assad's government since 2015.
Surovikin was replaced as commander in Russia's war in Ukraine by Chief of General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov following Russia's withdrawal from the southern city of Kherson amid a swift counteroffensive by Kyiv's troops, but the air force general continued to serve under Gerasimov as a deputy commander.
Prigozhin had spoken positively of Surovikin while criticizing Russia's military brass and suggested he should be appointed General Staff chief to replace Gerasimov.
- In:
- Ukraine
- Russia
- Vladimir Putin
veryGood! (2852)
Related
- Anti-abortion advocates press Trump for more restrictions as abortion pill sales spike
- Chiefs' Andy Reid steers clear of dynasty talk with potential three-peat on horizon
- Shohei Ohtani to make first comments since illegal gambling, theft allegations against interpreter
- Timothée Chalamet's Bob Dylan Movie Transformation Will Have You Tangled Up in Blue
- Love Is Blind’s Chelsea Blackwell Reacts to Megan Fox’s Baby News
- Katie Couric Is a Grandma as Daughter Ellie Welcomes First Baby
- 'Severe' solar storm hitting Earth could cause Midwest to see northern lights
- This women's sports bar is a game changer in sports entertainment
- Mason Bates’ Met-bound opera ‘Kavalier & Clay’ based on Michael Chabon novel premieres in Indiana
- Drake Bell says he went to rehab amid 'Quiet on Set,' discusses Brian Peck support letters
Ranking
- 2 dead in explosion at Kentucky factory that also damaged surrounding neighborhood
- Supreme Court again confronts the issue of abortion, this time over access to widely used medication
- ACC's run to the Sweet 16 and Baylor's exit headline March Madness winners and losers
- Rebel Wilson calls out Sacha Baron Cohen, says she will not be 'silenced' amid new memoir
- Reds honor Pete Rose with a 14-hour visitation at Great American Ball Park
- What do we know about Princess Kate's cancer diagnosis so far? Doctors share insights
- NBA suspends Kris Dunn, Jabari Smith for role in fight during Rockets-Jazz game
- The Daily Money: Good news for your 401(k)?
Recommendation
-
Pennsylvania House Republicans pick new floor leader after failing to regain majority
-
Jennifer Lopez Wants You to Prioritize Self-Care With These Finds From Women-Founded Brands
-
Sarah Ferguson Shares Admiration for Kate Middleton Amid Her Own Cancer Battle
-
Fareed Zakaria decries the anti-Americanism in America's politics today
-
Where you retire could affect your tax bill. Here's how.
-
10 NFL teams that need to have strong draft classes after free agency
-
New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy suspends run for U.S. Senate
-
Connecticut starting March Madness repeat bid in dominant form should scare rest of field