Russia has taken the step of removing Sergei Surovikin, known as “General Armageddon,” from his position as the head of the air force. This decision comes following his mysterious disappearance during a mutiny led by Wagner mercenaries against top army officials. The RIA state news agency reported this development on Wednesday.
Surovikin, a recipient of Russia’s highest military honor, now becomes the most senior Russian military figure to lose his position due to the mutiny that unfolded from June 23 to 34. President Vladimir Putin had warned that this mutiny had the potential to push Russia into civil war.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner group who orchestrated the rebellion, remains at large. On Monday, he posted a video message hinting that he was in Africa. Notably, the two individuals Prigozhin aimed to oust, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, the Chief of the General Staff, remain in their respective roles.
Surovikin’s removal has not been publicly announced, but RIA cited an unnamed source confirming that “Ex-chief of the Russian Air and Space Forces Sergei Surovikin has now been relieved of his post, while Colonel-General Viktor Afzalov, head of the Main Staff of the Air Force, is temporarily acting as commander-in-chief of the Air Force.”
This move to appoint an acting successor suggests authorities had concerns about Surovikin’s conduct during the mutiny. Given Surovikin’s acknowledged competence, some Western military experts speculate that his removal from active service might impact Russia’s ongoing operations in Ukraine, which Russia refers to as a “special military operation.”
Surovikin was last seen publicly on June 24, during the mutiny’s final day, when he appeared in a video that appeared to be carefully staged. He looked visibly strained, without military insignia, and urged Prigozhin to halt his advance on Moscow.
Following the mutiny’s resolution through negotiations and a Kremlin agreement, there were reports from some Russian news outlets and sources suggesting that Surovikin was under investigation for possible involvement in the mutiny and was under house arrest.
The RIA report does not provide details about Surovikin’s future in the Russian military. Notably, Surovikin earned the moniker “General Armageddon” due to his tactics during Russia’s military intervention in Syria.
Although he was initially in charge of Russian military operations in Ukraine, his role was reassigned to General Valery Gerasimov in January, with Surovikin serving as a deputy to Gerasimov. Colonel-General Viktor Afzalov, who has held the position of Chief of Staff of the Aerospace Forces for at least four years according to British military intelligence, was previously a deputy to Surovikin and has played a direct role in planning and executing Russia’s campaign against Ukraine. During Surovikin’s absence from the public eye, Afzalov was seen on television briefing Gerasimov last month.
