In a significant development, General Sergei Surovikin, the former commander of Russia’s forces in Ukraine who was tied to the leader of an armed rebellion, has been relieved of his duties as chief of the air force, as reported by Russian state media. This announcement follows a period of uncertainty surrounding Surovikin’s status subsequent to the brief uprising. General Surovikin had vanished from public view after an insurgent group led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group, made a march towards Moscow in June. During this tumultuous event, Surovikin had appeared in a video urging Prigozhin’s forces to retreat.
Throughout his unexplained absence, Russian media had speculated on Surovikin’s whereabouts, with some asserting that his close connections with Prigozhin might have led to his apprehension. The report of Surovikin’s removal from his position as commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces was attributed to an anonymous source by Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, which often reflects official Kremlin stances through information provided by unidentified individuals within the defense and security establishment. However, the Russian government has yet to comment on the report, and independent confirmation remains elusive.
Surovikin’s replacement has reportedly been named as Colonel General Viktor Afzalov, who presently serves as the head of the main staff of the air force. This development underscores the ongoing changes in Russia’s military leadership. Surovikin, known as “General Armageddon” for his intense military operations in Syria, commanded Russian activities in Ukraine from October 2022 to January 2023. His tenure oversaw missile barrages targeting Ukrainian cities, causing significant harm to civilian infrastructure and disrupting vital services. This leadership change comes against the backdrop of the Wagner insurgency, which posed a substantial challenge to President Vladimir Putin’s extended rule.
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