So-called Russian
war correspondents on Telegram – right-wing nationalists with informal links to
the state – were the first to spread information about Surovikin’s alleged
arrest.
One of the sources
claimed that the Kremlin regime did not like the “story with Surovikin.”
Another source
said the arrest was related to Wagner mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin’s
“rebellion,” as Surovikin may have initially sided with the mercenary leader.
Information about
the current whereabouts of the general “is not commented on even through
internal channels,” English-language newspaper the Moscow Times reported.
“He didn’t behave
submissively enough when he was set the task of reading the text on camera and
sorting out (the situation), he was too rude to the management (the Putin
regime),” the newspaper reported, citing its sources.
Prior to that, U.S.
newspaper the New York Times reported that, according to U.S. intelligence,
Surovikin knew about the preparations for Prigozhin’s mutiny in advance
Moreover,
investigative journalism outlet the Dossier Center reported on June 28 that
Surovikin had become an honorary member of Wagner mercenary company “back in
2017.”
Surovikin was
appointed as the commander of Russian occupation forces in Ukraine in October
2022. He is credited with the idea of launching massive missile strikes on
Ukrainian infrastructure.
The campaign to
attack Ukrainian infrastructure failed, as Ukraine was finally given advanced
air defense systems, including the U.S. Patriot system, by its military allies.
In January 2023,
Surovikin was removed from his post and tapped as the commander of the Russian
Aerospace Forces.
The Wagner mutiny: What we know
Prigozhin
announced the beginning of an armed conflict with the Russian Defense Ministry
on the evening of June 23, claiming that he wanted to “restore justice” in
Russia.
He said that the
Russian army struck the mercenaries’ “rear camp.” However, the conflict betweenPrigozhin and Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu had started months earlier.
For the past few
months, the Wagner leader has been persistently demanding the resignation of
the Russian defense minister, accusing him of poor management of the Russian
armed forces and of not supplying enough ammunition to Wagner forces.
The next day,
Wagner forces seized control over the main military facilities in the cities of
Rostov-on-Don and Voronezh. They also shot down seven Russian Air Force
aircraft.
Prigozhin then
demanded meetings with Russia’s top military leadership and threatened to
“advance towards Moscow” in a video address shot in Rostov-on-Don.
Putin, in turn,
posted a video address saying that the Russian Armed Forces had ordered to
eliminate those who led the “rebellion”.
The Wagnerites’
convoys nevertheless moved towards Moscow in a “march for justice,” as
Prigozhin called it.
The FSB charged
Prigozhin with “inciting insurrection,” while the security forces were
preparing to defend Moscow. Putin is believed to have fled the capital to hisresidence in Valdai, northwest of Moscow.
Belarusian
dictator Alexander Lukashenko held talks with Prigozhin as his mercenaries
closed in on Moscow, Lukashenko’s press office stated, culminating in a deal
where Prigozhin agreed to halt his forces’ advance on the Russian capital – in
exchange for dropping charges and changes at the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Soon after,
Prigozhin ordered Wagner mercenaries to turn back from Moscow and return to
their combat positions.
The Kremlin soon
announced that the criminal case against Prigozhin would be closed, and he
himself would “go to Belarus.”
Prigozhin arrived in Belarus after the Wagner mercenary company mutiny, Lukashenko confirmed on
June 27.