Russia’s most senior generals have not been seen in public since a failed Wagner armed mutiny five days ago in the country, as rumours swirled of military purges and arrests as President Vladimir Putin moved to reassert his authority.
A Russian general who previously led the invasion force in Ukraine has not been seen in public since Saturday, with US intelligence reportedly claiming he had prior knowledge of the uprising led by the Wagner chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Gen. Valery Gerasimov, the armed forces chief of staff and keeper of one of the country’s “nuclear briefcases,” has been absent from public view since Yevgeny Prigozhin’s private Wagner Group army marched on Moscow Saturday, demanding Gerasimov’s head. Gerasimov hasn’t been mentioned in a defence ministry press release since June 9.
Also missing is Gen. Sergei Surovikin, aka “General Armageddon” the head of the Russian aerospace forces and formerly Moscow’s supreme commander in Ukraine. Gerasimov’s predecessor as commander of Russian forces in Ukraine Prigozhin had welcomed his appointment to that post in 2022, calling him a “legendary figure” and “born to serve his motherland”.
The New York Times reported Wednesday that U.S. intelligence officials believe Surovikin knew of the Wagner uprising ahead of time. U.S. officials told Reuters on Wednesday that Surovikin supported Prigozhin, but it was unclear if he had aided the rebellion.
On Wednesday, the Moscow Times, citing two sources close to the defence ministry, said that Surovikin, commander of Russia’s aerospace forces, had been arrested on Sunday. “They grabbed him by the balls,” one source told the news outlet. The Financial Times, citing three sources, said Thursday that Surovikin was in custody. It was unclear if he was being charged with aiding the rebellion or simply being questioned.
Alexei Venediktov, a dissident former editor-in-chief of Ekho Moskvy radio, wrote on Telegram that “Surovikin has not been in touch with his family for three days. His guards are not responding either.” And Venediktov said Surovikin’s deputy, Colonel General Andrey Yudin, had been fired.
