Russian military leader fired after disappearing during Wagner rebellion: reports

by Brad Dress - 08/23/23 10:04 AM ET

Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP
Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with General Sergei Surovikin, commander of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, who was awarded with the Order of Saint George of the Third Class, during a visit to the headquarters of the Southern Military District at an unknown location in Russia on Dec. 31, 2022.

Russian Gen. Sergey Surovikin, who disappeared from public view following the Wagner Group rebellion in June, was fired as commander of Russia’s aerospace forces, according to Russian media reports.

Surovikin was dismissed from the post because he is transferring to another job, a Russian Defense Ministry source told Russian news site RBC.

The Russian general, who has not been seen for about two months, is “currently on a short vacation,” the source said.

Gen. Viktor Afzalov, the chief of staff to the aerospace forces, has been appointed the interim commander to replace Surovikin, according to state-run media outlet RIA Novosti.

Surovikin was last seen in a video June 24 pleading for Wagner Group founder and mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin to stand down.

Prigozhin marched on Moscow with thousands of mercenary troops behind his back before he reached a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to stand down. The Wagner boss was exiled to Belarus and charges against him were dropped.

After the short-lived mutiny, Putin began what some Russian bloggers called a “purge” in the military ranks, interviewing and questioning the loyalty of soldiers.

Media reports around the same time reported that Surovikin, who historically has close ties with Prigozhin, was detained by Russian authorities.

Russian military blogger Rybar, who has more than a million subscribers on Telegram, said this week that Surovikin was removed “immediately” after Prigozhin’s rebellion.

The Russian general was held in the infamous Lefortovo prison for interrogation before he was questioned in a more “comfortable” place, according to Rybar, who said the details of the incident were not necessarily new.

“The news of the official removal of Surovikin from office is far from news for people in the know,” Rybar wrote.

Surovikin, known as “General Armageddon” for his brutal tactics leading Russian campaigns in Syria, was appointed as commander of the aerospace forces in October 2017.

He also led Moscow’s war in Ukraine from October 2022 to January of this year before he was replaced by Gen. Valery Gerasimov.