Kremlin Tightlipped On Russian Army Gen With Ties To Wagner Chief, Daughter Denies Reports Of His Arrest

Kremlin turned down questions on Russian army general Sergei Surovikin’s whereabouts after his links with Wagner chief Prigozhin fuelled murmurs that he could be purged or put under investigation.

File Photo: In this picture taken on December 28, 2017 Russian President Vladimir Putin presents an award to Colonel General Sergei Surovikin, the commander of Russian troops in Syria, during a ceremony to bestow state awards on military personnel who fought in Syria, at the Kremlin in Moscow.

Source : AFP

Amid reports that Russian army general Sergei Surovikin close to the Wagner group was being questioned by the security services, the Kremlin turned down questions about the whereabouts of the officer. Earlier, US intelligence on Wednesday claimed that Surovikin had prior knowledge of Yevgeny Prigozhin’s rebellion wherein Wagner group mercenaries captured the city of Rostov and moved on to Moscow before cutting an amnesty deal.

Surovikin had previously led the invasion force in Ukraine. The well-known connection between Surovikin and Prigozhin has fuelled murmurs that the Russian army general could be purged or put under investigation for supporting the Wagner uprising.

According to The Guardian, Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, when asked if the Kremlin could clarify the situation with Surovikin, said: “No, unfortunately not. So I recommend that you contact the defence ministry. This is its prerogative.”

The spokesperson also declined to answer a question on whether Surovikin retained Putin’s confidence.

The Wagner group chief had worked closely with Surovikin during Russia’s military intervention in Syria and previously described the general as a “legendary figure”.

However, when Prigozhin launched his rebellion, the Russian Army General made a statement against it in support of the Russian government late on Friday.

Surovikin’s Daughter Denies Arrest

Citing people familiar with the matter, the Associated Press and the Financial Times reported on Thursday that Surovikin had been detained. As per their reports, it was unclear if he was charged as a plotter and where he was being kept.

However, in an interview with a Russian Telegram channel Baza which has close ties to the police, Surovikin’s daughter denied reports of her father’s arrest. “Nothing happened to him, he is at his workplace as usual,” Veronika Surovika said, as quoted by The Guardian.

Other Russian independent media, citing security sources, also said that the Russian Army General was not currently under arrest.

Nicknamed “General Armageddon” for his hardline and unorthodox tactics for waging war, Surovikin is said to be a popular figure in the Russian army. He is also credited with amping up Russia’s defences, which appear to have been effective in slowing down Ukraine’s summer counterattacks so far.

Dissolution Of Prigozhin’s Vast Mercenary And Business Empire

Notably, Russia is also said to be moving ahead with the dissolution of Prigozhin’s vast mercenary and business empire. The Wall Street Journal reported that Wagner fighters who operated under Prigozhin’s command in Syria since 2015 were ordered to an airbase run by Russia’s defence ministry in the Syrian port city of Latakia this week.

After his exile in Belarus, Prigozhin’s notorious “troll farm” and media business was looking for fresh ownership, Russian media reported.

In February 2023, Prigozhin admitted that he was behind Russia’s Internet Research Agency, a company that the US says is a troll farm and is accused of meddling in the 2016 US presidential election.