Financial Times and The Moscow Times: Russian General Surovikin detained
Deputy head of the Russian group of forces in Ukraine, General Sergey Surovikin has been detained following the Wagner Group’s failed rebellion, the Financial Times reports, citing three sources.
The newspaper notes that it is unclear whether the general is suspected of conspiring with Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin or just in custody for questioning.
IStories was told by two sources close to the General Staff and the FSB that Surovikin was only questioned and then let go.
Baza, a Russian Telegram channel, contacted Surovikin’s daughter who said that her father was not detained. According to the woman, “nothing happened” to Surovikin, he was not arrested, “everyone is at their workplaces” now. Surovikin’s wife refused to comment on the rumours of her husband’s arrest.
On 28 June, Russian military blogger Vladimir Romanov reported that Surovikin was in a Moscow detention centre. According to him, the military commander was “taken” back on 25 June. The Moscow Times also confirms the report after speaking to two sources close to the Russian Defence Ministry.
“The story involving him was not OK. For the authorities. I cannot say anything more,” one of the sources said.
“There will be news in the context of Prigozhin. He [Surovikin] seemingly chose [Prigozhin’s] side [during the mutiny attempt], and they grabbed him by the balls,” the other source believes. When asked about the general’s whereabouts, he replied, “We don’t even talk about this in our internal channels”.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that he cannot clarify the Surovikin situation. “I advise you to ask the Defence Ministry, it’s their prerogative,” he noted.
The New York Times reported earlier that Surovikin could have known about Prigozhin’s rebellion plot. Moreover, unnamed US officials believe that Prigozhin could have been aided by other Russian generals.
“Mr. Prigozhin would not have launched his uprising unless he believed that others in positions of power would come to his aid,” NYT wrote.
The Wall Street Journal also claims, citing sources, that Prigozhin shared his coup plans with the high-ranking military officials, including Sergey Surovikin. At the same time, it is unclear whether the general relayed this information to the FSB.
The Dossier Centre notes that Surovikin became a part of the Wagner Group team back in 2017. He was issued a personalised tag with a number, M-3744. Moreover, according to the Dossier, more than 30 Russian generals and officials were honourable members of the private military company.
General Surovikin was the first top commander to speak out in the early hours on 24 June straight after the mutiny began, posting a video address to urge mercenaries to stop and resolve everything peacefully, because “the enemy is just waiting for our domestic political situation to escalate”.
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