Amid allegations of his involvement in the recent armed revolt targeting Putin’s regime, General Sergei Surovikin, known as ‘Armageddon,’ has disappeared. Speculation suggests he may be under interrogation for plotting to remove Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, as Putin initiates a purge to eliminate internal adversaries.
According to US officials familiar with the intelligence, a high-ranking Russian general had prior knowledge of Yevgeny Prigozhin’s rebellion against Shoigu and Chief of the Armed Forces General Valery Gerasimov, citing failures in the Ukraine conflict. While suspicions point to Surovikin, who has ties to Prigozhin and a reputation for brutality, experts caution that leaked information may serve to undermine him, causing further chaos within the Kremlin.
The Rybar Telegram channel, known for its connections to the military, reported that Surovikin has not been seen since Saturday and raised the possibility of his interrogation. It also claimed that Gerasimov, though formally retaining his position, is no longer involved in war-related decisions. Airborne Forces Commander Mikhail Teplinsky is said to be in command of the ongoing military operation.
Surovikin, who was appointed to lead the Russian war effort in October but had his responsibilities revoked by Putin in January, remained as Gerasimov’s deputy. Prior to his apparent disappearance, he issued a plea urging opposition to military leadership to cease and advised a return to bases before it was too late. This call coincided with suspicions of his knowledge and alleged sympathy towards the coup.
The armed revolt orchestrated by the Wagner Private Military Company has sparked extensive purges within the Russian Armed Forces, targeting not only senior officials but also junior ranks perceived as supportive of the uprising against Putin’s commanders.
Additionally, reports suggest that Putin refrained from dismissing his “extremely dangerous” defense minister due to fears of him becoming a direct rival. The weakened dictator intervened to quell the armed revolt, which specifically targeted Shoigu for his alleged failures in the war. However, insiders claim that Putin hesitated to fulfill Prigozhin’s demand for Shoigu’s dismissal due to the minister’s popularity among senior officials and his knowledge of sensitive information.
Negotiations involving Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko and FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov aimed at ending the revolt did not involve Putin directly. Instead, he remained out of contact, conferring only with Bortnikov. Speculation suggests that Putin retreated to his forest palace at Valdai, where he has a bunker.
These revelations shed light on the deep divisions and instability within Putin’s power structure as he faces territorial losses in the ongoing Ukrainian conflict.
Source: With Agencies