Russian MP says deputy commander of operation in Ukraine 'is resting'

MP Andrei Kartapolov, Chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee (Russian lower house), announced on July 12 that General Sergei Surovikin is "resting", according to Reuters. In a video posted on social media, Mr. Kartapolov said: "Mr. Surovikin is resting. He is not available at the moment."

Nghị sĩ Nga nói phó chỉ huy chiến dịch tại Ukraine 'đang nghỉ ngơi' - Ảnh 1. — General Sergei Surovikin, Deputy Commander of Russia's military operation in Ukraine

General Surovikin is the commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces and deputy commander of the military operation in Ukraine. Mr. Surovikin last appeared in public in a video calling on Wagner mercenaries to end the rebellion against the Russian Defense Ministry on June 24.

Mr. Surovikin is said to have good relations with Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. The New York Times last month, citing U.S. intelligence, said Mr. Surovikin knew in advance about Wagner's plans for a rebellion and that Russian authorities were investigating whether he was complicit.

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Rumors have appeared in Russian and international media about Mr. Surovikin's arrest, but Mr. Alexey Melnikov, Secretary of Russia's Public Supervisory Committee, on June 29 denied that Mr. Surovikin was being detained, according to TASS.

"Representatives of many Russian and foreign media agencies have called me quite often in recent days. They asked if Mr. Surovikin was in detention. I replied that he was not in Lefortovo (the notorious Moscow detention center where suspects accused of treason are held, according to CNN) or any other detention center," Mr. Melnikov said at the time.

Meanwhile, two figures targeted by Wagner in the rebellion, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, commander of the operation in Ukraine, have recently resurfaced after the rebellion.

Mr Gerasimov appeared on television on July 10, listening to a report from the Chief of Staff of the Aerospace Forces, Viktor Afzalov. Mr Afzalov has held that position for at least four years and is Mr Surovikin’s deputy, but it is believed to be the first time he has appeared publicly with Mr Gerasimov, the British Ministry of Defense said on July 12.

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The British Ministry of Defence said Mr Afzalov’s increased public appearances, while Mr Surovikin’s whereabouts were unknown, added weight to the theory that Mr Surovikin had been sidelined after the rebellion. Russian officials have not commented on this information.

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