Latest news with #Surovikin
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Russia's ‘General Armageddon' Seen in Algeria Years After Failed Mutiny: UK
A Russian military officer once key to Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine who had not been seen in public in an official capacity for nearly two years, has been spotted in Algeria, according to U.K. intelligence officials. In a post on social media, U.K. intelligence reported Sergei Surovikin attended a military parade in the North African country. Surovikin, whose reputation for acting brutally earned him the nickname of "General Armageddon" had largely disappeared from public view following a failed June 2023 mutiny and march on Moscow by Wagner mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, with whom he was closely associated. Newsweek has contacted the Russian defense ministry for comment. Reports of Surovikin's arrest following the failed mutiny were never confirmed by Russian authorities but his appearance in Algeria raises questions about his current role in the military and Moscow's footprint in Africa. In its update on Tuesday, the U.K.'s Ministry of Defence said that a "notably thinner" Surovikin appeared in Russian embassy photographs at a Victory Day event in Algeria on May 9. This was probably his first public appearance in an official role since 2023 and he is likely in the North African country as head of military specialists at the Russian embassy there, U.K. defense officials said. Surovikin is a former commander of Russian forces in Ukraine and served as commander-in-chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces. He had been linked to Prigozhin, who had been a vehement critic of Moscow's conduct in the war in Ukraine. Prigozhin led his Wagner group of mercenaries in a mutiny which saw them stop short of Moscow in a move denounced as "treason" by Putin. U.K. intelligence said Tuesday Russian authorities were probably suspicious of Surovikin's association with Wagner dating back to Moscow's intervention in the Syrian civil war in 2017. After Prigozhin died in a plane crash for which the Kremlin has denied responsibility, there were unconfirmed reports that Surovikin had been arrested and detained. Russian social media users had reported in September 2023 that Surovikin had been appointed to a new post of some kind in Algeria, although nothing had been officially confirmed. That month, investigative journalist Christo Grozev posted images from Wagner-linked social media channels of Surovikin meeting with local officials in Algeria saying that he had "kind of been rehabilitated." U.K. Defense Ministry: "Sergey Surovikin, former commander of the Russian group of forces in Ukraine, is reportedly carrying out a role as 'head of a group of Russian military specialists' at the Russian embassy in Algeria." Speculation over Surovikin's fate grew after references to him were removed from the Russian defense ministry's website but a more public presence in Algeria may raise questions over whether he will take on a more prominent role in Russia's military. Related Articles Russian State TV Network Mocks Donald Trump's Attack on PutinUkraine Sounds Warning Over Russian Troops Massing at Front LineZelensky Makes Trump, Putin ProposalThe Sanctions Era Is Quietly Ending. The West Isn't Ready | Opinion 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Russia's 'General Armageddon' Seen in Algeria Years After Failed Mutiny: UK
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Russian military officer once key to Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine who had not been seen in public in an official capacity for nearly two years, has been spotted in Algeria, according to U.K. intelligence officials. In a post on social media, U.K. intelligence reported Sergei Surovikin attended a military parade in the North African country. Surovikin, whose reputation for acting brutally earned him the nickname of "General Armageddon" had largely disappeared from public view following a failed June 2023 mutiny and march on Moscow by Wagner mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, with whom he was closely associated. Newsweek has contacted the Russian defense ministry for comment. Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, shakes hands with General Sergei Surovikin on December 31, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, shakes hands with General Sergei Surovikin on December 31, 2022. MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV//Getty Images Why It Matters Reports of Surovikin's arrest following the failed mutiny were never confirmed by Russian authorities but his appearance in Algeria raises questions about his current role in the military and Moscow's footprint in Africa. What To Know In its update on Tuesday, the U.K.'s Ministry of Defence said that a "notably thinner" Surovikin appeared in Russian embassy photographs at a Victory Day event in Algeria on May 9. This was probably his first public appearance in an official role since 2023 and he is likely in the North African country as head of military specialists at the Russian embassy there, U.K. defense officials said. Surovikin is a former commander of Russian forces in Ukraine and served as commander-in-chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces. He had been linked to Prigozhin, who had been a vehement critic of Moscow's conduct in the war in Ukraine. Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - May 27 2025. Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 — Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) May 27, 2025 Prigozhin led his Wagner group of mercenaries in a mutiny which saw them stop short of Moscow in a move denounced as "treason" by Putin. U.K. intelligence said Tuesday Russian authorities were probably suspicious of Surovikin's association with Wagner dating back to Moscow's intervention in the Syrian civil war in 2017. After Prigozhin died in a plane crash for which the Kremlin has denied responsibility, there were unconfirmed reports that Surovikin had been arrested and detained. Russian social media users had reported in September 2023 that Surovikin had been appointed to a new post of some kind in Algeria, although nothing had been officially confirmed. That month, investigative journalist Christo Grozev posted images from Wagner-linked social media channels of Surovikin meeting with local officials in Algeria saying that he had "kind of been rehabilitated." What People Are Saying U.K. Defense Ministry: "Sergey Surovikin, former commander of the Russian group of forces in Ukraine, is reportedly carrying out a role as 'head of a group of Russian military specialists' at the Russian embassy in Algeria." What Happens Next Speculation over Surovikin's fate grew after references to him were removed from the Russian defense ministry's website but a more public presence in Algeria may raise questions over whether he will take on a more prominent role in Russia's military.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
UK intelligence reveals that Russian General Surovikin has been found in Algeria
UK intelligence has learned that Russian General Sergei Surovikin who has not been seen in public for many months is likely in Algeria. Source: UK Defence Intelligence update dated 27 May on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: The update relays reports from the Russian media that General Surovikin was spotted in a photo from the Russian Embassy in Algeria, taken during Victory Day events on 9 May, where he appeared in the role of "head of a group of Russian military specialists". [Victory Day is a Russian holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945 – ed.] This is one of Surovikin's first public appearances since Yevgeny Prigozhin's failed mutiny in 2023. [Prigozhin was the financier of the Wagner Private Military Company. He led a failed mutiny in June 2023, during which he accused Russia's military leadership of betraying Wagner fighters and briefly advanced towards Moscow before standing down after negotiations – ed.] Surovikin previously commanded the Russian Group of Forces in the war against Ukraine and later headed the Russian Aerospace Forces. He was known to be close to Prigozhin, notably due to involvement in operations in Syria. Quote from UK intelligence: "Reports of Surovikin's arrest and detention in relation to the June 2023 Wagner Group mutiny were not publicly confirmed. The Russian Ministry of Defence (MOD) did not officially announce Surovikin's resignation. However, in September 2023, references to him were reportedly removed from the Russian MOD's website." Details: Analysts suggest that the Kremlin has viewed Surovikin with suspicion due to his long-standing ties to the Wagner Group dating back to the Syrian campaign. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Russian commander in Ukraine Sergei Surovikin reported to be working in Algeria
Sergei Surovikin, the former commander of Russian troops in Ukraine who disappeared from sight following the late Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin's rebellion in Russia, has been spotted in Algeria. Source: Meduza, a Latvia-based Russian media outlet Details: Russian journalists have drawn attention to photographs posted by the Russian Embassy in Algeria in which a man similar to Surovikin wearing sunglasses is present. The embassy did not mention the general's name, but indicated that his position is "head of a group of Russian military specialists". Background: After Prigozhin's rebellion in the summer of 2023, Surovikin no longer appeared in the public eye. Rumours spread in the Russian media that the general may have known about the rebellion in advance. He was arrested after the mutiny and released after Prigozhin died in a plane crash. From October 2022 to January 2023, Surovikin commanded the joint group of Russian troops in Ukraine, and from 11 January 2023, he served as deputy commander. Surovikin visited Algeria in September 2023 amid media speculation that he might be appointed to work in the eastern part of the country. In February 2025, Victor Sobolev, a member of the Duma Defence Committee, said that Surovikin was "working as a military adviser" in an African country. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
