Prigozhin’s right hand man in Russia’s military sacked
By Daily Tab24. Updated: 3:21 pm. Aug 23, 2023.
Washington has made it clear Russian General Sergei Surovikin who earned the nickname ‘Armageddon’ during Russia’s war in Syria was dismissed immediately after Prigozhin’s half-baked mutiny. The reason for the dismissal of Surovikin is still unknown, but it was widely believed he was dismissed because he is the right hand man of Prigozhin.
New reports emerged of the dismissal, sending a negative wave within Putin’s government. The report was first circulated by Alexei Venediktov, a seasoned editor-in-chief of now defunct Echo of Moscow radio station. Venediktov cited official decree and said that the axed General will remain in the defense ministry. He said via his Telegram channel.
The report by the seasoned editor was buttressed by other Russian media gurus and military blogs. Surovikin will reportedly be replaced immediately to avoid creating a vacuum. Before the dismissal of the General, it was believed by multiple sources that Putin had already sourced out a replacement.
General Surovikin was a significant commander in the Russia’s military operation in Ukraine and headed the country’s aerospace forces. His expertise and military intelligence has often been praised by Putin’s government, now reportedly dismissed, he is yet to be seen in public.
The decree that dismissed the General remains internal, the reason for not making it public could be to avoid giving critics of Putin a loophole to dwell on. Critics of Putin have grown fond of using every shakeup within his inner circle to raise a remarkable alarm. Putin’s war in Ukraine has been condemned by everyone, except his government.
Surovikin’s relationship with Prigozhin remains undefined, and he was the commander-in-chief of the Russian units from October 2022 to January 2023. Significantly, the General was the very on that recalled Russian troops from the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson in November 2022. It was considered a shame by Putin’s circle, who frowned at the withdrawal that played into the hands of the West that used it against Putin.
“Army General Sergei Surovikin has been relieved of his post in connection with the transition to another job and is at the disposal of the ‘Ministry of Defense’” RBC reported. There is no official decree anywhere or within the Russia’s military that confirmed the viral report of the dismissal.
Prigozhin had frayed commanders within the Russia’s regular army and complained the killings of his men as the reason for the fallout with his mission in Ukraine. There was no report on the influence of Prigozhin as regards to the dismissal of the general.
Prigozhin’s struggle with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov yielded no positive result for him, as his effort to influence their dismissal fell on deaf ears. The dismissal of Surovikin may be related to the power struggle within, due to his close relationship with the Wagner boss.
Surovikin demanded of Prigozhin to give up his advance to Moscow during his half-baked coup. Surovikin spoke because he was considered one Prigozhin could listen to due to their close relationship. Prigozhin later gave up his advance, while a report of complicity was raised against Surovikin.
Russia remains secretive with the handling of the dismissal to hold firm a military that lost harmony.
