“Surovykin has not been in touch with his family for three days”

The former editor-in-chief of “Echo of Moscow” Alexey Venediktov claims that according to the information he has, General Sergey Surovykin, commander of the Russian Air Force and deputy commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, has not been in touch with his family for three days. According to Venediktov, it is impossible to contact his security.

So Venediktov, who has many sources in Russian power circles, commented on the reports that appeared on Wednesday about the alleged arrest of the general in connection with the role he allegedly played in the mutiny of PMC “Wagner”.

Citing sources close to the Ministry of Defense, The Moscow Times stated that Surovykin had been arrested. When asked by journalists about where the general is now, the source replied: “We do not comment on this information even through internal channels.”

There is no official confirmation of this information. Earlier, some pro-military Telegram channels reported on the alleged arrest of Surovykin. Blogger Vladimir Romanov wrote that the general was arrested on June 25, that is, the day after the end of the mutiny of the PMC “Wagner”. Other pro-military channels, however, claim that the general has not been arrested, but is only writing explanatory notes in connection with the mutiny. The Ministry of Defense did not report anything about the fate of the general.

Surovykin himself appeared in public for the last time on the evening of June 23. Then he recorded a video appeal in which he called on the fighters of PMC “Wagner” to stop. Where he is now is unknown.

The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal wrote on Wednesday, citing US intelligence sources, that Surovykin might have known about Yevgeny Prigozhin’s plans to oppose the army leadership. Intelligence sources do not have a definite opinion about whether he himself supported the rebellion.

• Surovykin is one of the most famous Russian generals, in the fall he was appointed commander of the entire group of Russian troops in Ukraine. His name is associated with the campaign to bombard Ukrainian energy facilities, the construction of a fortified line in the occupied territories, and the surrender of Kherson and the right bank of the Dnieper, which he called a “difficult decision.” Later he became the deputy commander. Most pro-war bloggers actively praised Surovykin. The head of PMC “Wagner” Yevgeny Prigozhin also spoke approvingly of him, contrasting him with other army chiefs.