The chief of the Russian army’s general staff is conspicuous by his absence in public, while another general is possibly under arrest.
In Russia, the first indications of possible purges have appeared in the leadership of the army from the mercenary Wagner rebellion.
Among other things, The Moscow Times and Financial Times report, citing their sources, that the general Even Sergei Surovik has been arrested. Surovikinia, who has long-standing connections with Wagner’s director to Yevgeny Prigozhinhas not been seen since he called on Wagner to step down in a video he posted on Saturday.
The New York Times previously reported, citing its sources, that Surovikin knew about Wagner’s rebellion in advance. The Kremlin has not agreed to comment on whether Surovik has actually been arrested.
When asked Thursday if the president trusts Vladimir Putin still to Surovikin, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Putin is working with the defense minister and the chief of the general staff.
Questions are also raised by another prominent general, the chief of the Russian army’s general staff Valery Gerasimov destiny.
Prigozhin demanded during the Wagner rebellion Gerasimov and the Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigun ouster from Russia’s military leadership. After the uprising, Šoigu has been prominent in the public eye, but not a single glimpse of Gerasimov has been seen. He has also not been mentioned in the press releases of the Russian Ministry of Defense since June 9.
A purge in the Russian administration?
Among other things, the fact that Wagner managed to get within 200 kilometers of Moscow has raised suspicions that some of the highest leadership of the Russian army may have cooperated with Prigozhin regarding the rebellion. So now there may be a round of punishment going on.
A well-known journalist Alexei Venediktov wrote on Wednesday on his Telegram channel that neither Surovik nor his closest subjects have been in contact with their families for three days.
Rybar, a respected Russian war blog, said on Tuesday, that the rebellion has become an excuse for a large-scale purge in the Russian armed forces. Rybar is run by a former employee of the press department of the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Sources: AP, Reuters