Russian General Sergei Surovikin has been arrested according to a sources in the Russia’s Defense Ministry.
The Moscow Times reported on June 28 that Surovikin’s detention is linked to the uprising involving Yevgeny Prigozhin’s Wagner Group. It appears that Surovikin sided with Prigozhin during the rebellion, resulting in his capture. The general’s current location remains unknown.
Until January 2023, Sergei Surovikin held the position of the top commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, but he was subsequently replaced by Valery Gerasimov, the Chief of Staff.
Prigozhin has a longstanding feud with Gerasimov and many other leaders in Russia’s military. The Wagner Group’s leader has criticized Gerasimov, referring to him as incompetent, and has opposed the government’s efforts to integrate Wagner into the regular armed forces. Prigozhin cited the military’s attempt to dissolve his company as the primary motive for his rebellion, expressing his intention to capture both Gerasimov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Russia-Ukraine War Latest Update as of June 29, 2023
On June 25, rumors of Surovikin’s arrest were initially spread by Russian military blogger Vladimir Romanov, as noted by the Moscow Times. However, the Russian Defense Ministry has not provided any official comment on the matter, and the claim remains unverified.
Earlier on June 28, The New York Times reported that Sergey Surovikin, who previously served as a high-ranking commander during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, had prior knowledge of Prigozhin’s rebellion. CNN later suggested that other individuals within Russian military and intelligence circles may have also been aware of the impending uprising.
APC chieftain advises Tinubu on what to do with fuel subsidy funds
The rebellion, initiated by the founder of the Wagner Group, began on June 23, as his mercenaries occupied Rostov and advanced within 200 km of Moscow. However, the insurrection abruptly ended less than 24 hours later on June 24, following an alleged agreement brokered by Belarus’ leader, Aleksandr Lukashenko, in coordination with the Kremlin. As per the agreement, Prigozhin and his contracted soldiers were permitted to depart for Belarus.
The rebellion exposed weaknesses in Putin’s leadership and revealed the unpreparedness of Russia’s defense ministry for a potential attack, according to the Institute for the Study of War.
