Politico: Kremlin Issues Special Order Regarding Surovikin
- 16.08.2023, 9:31
It became known what they have prepared for "General Armageddon"
Russian General Sergei Surovikin, believed to be an ally of exiled PMC Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, has been removed from his leadership role in the war Moscow has waged in Ukraine. He is now under house arrest.
This is reported by Politico, with reference to reports circulating among Russian military bloggers and media outlets. According to the VChK-OGPU Telegram channel, which is believed to be run by a person close to Russian security officials, Surovikin is now "under a kind of house arrest" - he cannot leave the flat he is in, but he is allowed visitors.
Surovikin, known as "General Armageddon" for his aggressive military strategies in Chechnya and Syria, has not appeared in public since Wagner's march on Moscow in June, after it was reported that he knew about Prigozhin's planned mutiny.
"There is no official investigation, but Surovikin has been suspended for a long time, answering uncomfortable questions," the VChK-OGPU said, adding that the general had been advised to stay in the shadows to get "forgotten".
It added that the decision on Surovikin's final fate "should be made by one person," and the longer he stays in the shadows, the more likely that person will "cool down" - referring to Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin.
This information comes just days after Viktor Sobolev, a former Russian lieutenant general and now a State Duma deputy, reported that Surovikin had been removed as commander of the occupation forces in Ukraine.
Sobolev also hinted that Surovikin could eventually return, saying the general could be useful to the army later if it is not found that he has committed serious offences.
The Kremlin has yet to make an official public statement on Surovikin's whereabouts and has not commented in any way on what he allegedly knew about the Wagner campaign.
Russia tried to deny such rumours, but the media reported that the general had been detained by the FSB. On June 29, Surovikin's daughter said that allegedly "nothing happened" to him, and Peskov advised to contact the Russian Defence Ministry. However, on July 3, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu gathered all the generals at a meeting except Surovikin.
Russian human rights activist Vladimir Osechkin claimed that Surovikin, as well as the first deputy chief of the Russian General Staff Vladimir Alekseev, were not only aware of Prigozhin's preparation of the mutiny, but also contributed to its implementation.
According to him, the mutiny was prepared for more than eight months, and Surovikin and Alekseev gave verbal commands to Russian army units not to resist Wagner forces.