Russian Gen. Sergei Surovikin is allegedly "resting" as he has not been seen in public since Wagner's failed rebellion amid reports that he has been detained over his links to the mercenary's group's thwarted mutiny.
In a video posted on social media on Wednesday, the head of the State Duma Defense Committee, Andrei Kartapolov, was heard saying that Surovikin was resting and was not currently available.
Sergei Surovikin's Current Condition
The senior lawmaker's remarks about the Russian general's current status echo previous statements on various Telegram news channels. The remarks said that the general was resting "in one of the Caucasus resorts."
On the other hand, the independent Russian Telegram news channel, Verstka, on Wednesday cited anonymous sources when it noted that Surovikin was detained and questioned by the counterintelligence arm of Russia's security service, the FSB. It was done in response to alleged suspicion that he took part in the organization of Wagner's failed rebellion, as per the New York Post.
A source familiar with the matter and who spoke to Verstka said that Surovikin was placed in isolation and has not been allowed to communicate with his relatives for more than two weeks. The general, who has been nicknamed "General Armageddon," was last seen on video when he addressed Wagner forces, urging them to lay down their weapons during the rebellion.
Many likened Surovikin's video as comparable to a "hostage video" as he is believed to have had advance knowledge of the failed mutiny. The influential pro-war Rybar Telegram channel was the one that reported unconfirmed claims that the general was arrested and subjected to interrogation.
Amid the rumors, the Kremlin dismissed the allegations about Surovikin's supposed condition, calling them merely speculations and gossip. However, it declined to directly answer questions regarding the Russian general's whereabouts.
Wagner's rebellion ended after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko intervened by making a deal with the group's leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin. The group's soldiers were apparently told that they could either join the Russian armed forces, go home, or go to serve in Belarus, according to BBC.
Wagner Group's Failed Rebellion
The Russian defense ministry said on Wednesday that the Wagner group was completing the process of handing over weapons and military equipment. They were said to have surrendered more than 2,000 items, including tanks, rocket launch systems, anti-aircraft guns, and artillery.
The defense ministry also published a video of the surrendered hardware along with large quantities of small arms and ammunition. However, there has been no independent confirmation that confirmed the supplies shown were taken from Wagner.
The situation comes after Surovikin was given the responsibility of leading Russian forces in the war with Ukraine in October, but was removed from that post after three months. He oversaw devastating assaults on Kyiv's energy infrastructure that left millions of civilians without power or water over the winter season.
Rumors about Surovikin's situation come after reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Prigozhin and Wagner's top commanders a few days after the failed rebellion. The incident raised various questions regarding what sort of agreement had been struck with the former insurrectionists, said the New York Times.
Related Article : Russia Vetoes Syria's Cross-Border Aid Lifeline Extension
