Russian General Surovikin reportedly arrested after Wagner mutiny

Russian General Sergei Surovikin, often referred to as “General Armaggedon,” has been arrested following the Wagner mercenary company mutiny, the Moscow Times reported on June 28, citing two sources close to the Russian Defense Ministry.

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.

Read also: A castling of generals: Why Putin appointed Gerasimov in place of Surovikin

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.

Read also: Shoigu’s role in question as Tula governor emerges as potential defense minister, writes Meduza

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.

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