Valeri Gerasimov, the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, who was thought to have been fired, may not have moved aside after all.
On Monday, the Russian Ministry of Defense released a video recording of Sunday’s meeting of Russia’s top military leadership.
The meeting discussed the invasion of Ukraine and the drone attacks on Crimea and Rostov.
The video recording also shows the chief of the main staff of the Russian armed forces Valery Gerasimov.
Based on the pictures, it seems that Gerasimov is still in charge of the General Staff.
Disappeared after the Wagner Rebellion
Previously Moscow Times reported that Gerasimov had been sidelined due to the war of aggression in Ukraine.
The Wagner boss is believed to be the reason Yevgeny Prigozhin failed rebellion.
Gerasimov disappeared from public view on June 24, the same day Wagner’s troops entered Rostov-on-Don in an armed uprising.
According to Telegram sources who defend Russia, the 67-year-old Gerasimov is still formally in charge of the General Staff, although he has been officially removed from the leadership.
Army purges underway in Russia?
At the end of June, among others, the American think tank ISW suspected that there might be a purge in the Russian army.
In addition to the disappearance of Gerasimov, General Even Sergei Surovik fate has raised questions.
Among other things, The Moscow Times and the Financial Times report, citing their sources, that General Surovik was also arrested.
The New York Times previously reported, citing its sources, that Surovikin knew about Wagner’s rebellion in advance. The Russian general is said to have been a secret VIP member of a mercenary company, CNN reports.
The Kremlin has not agreed to comment on whether Surovik has actually been arrested.
Source: Reuters