Surovikin spotted serving as Russia’s military attaché in Algeria

The embassy did not name him but identified him as “head of the group of Russian military experts in Algeria.”

In February 2025, Russian MP Viktor Sobolev said Surovikin is serving as a military advisor in one of Africa’s countries. In September 2023, Russian propaganda newspaper Kommersant reported that Surovikin was in Algeria with a delegation from the Russian Defense Ministry and may be appointed to a position related to operations on the “eastern direction.”

On Sept. 4, 2023, Surovikin made his first public appearance after Wagner PMC leader Yevgeny Prigozhin’s attempted coup in June. Days later, The New York Times reported that Surovikin was aware of the preparations for the mutiny and may have even aided the rebels. On June 28, 2023, The Moscow Times confirmed that the general was arrested in connection with Prigozhin’s mutiny.