Putin’s notorious ‘Armageddon general’ vanishes days after failed Wagner revolt

One of Russian President Vladimir Putin's top men has “vanished” after the failed coup attempt.

General Sergei Surovikin is the second-in-command in the Russian armed forces, and has not been seen or heard from for days.

The 56-year-old is thought to have been involved in demands made by ex-Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin to have Defence Minister Sergei Shiogu ousted, and is known to have links to the now-exiled former chef.

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US officials, briefed on American intelligence, said a top Russian general had advance knowledge of Prigozhin’s plans to rebel against Shoigu and chief of the armed forces General Valery Gerasimov over failings in the war against Ukraine, reported The New York Times.

The suspicion is that this general is Surovikin, a commander known for his ruthlessness and brutality.

Now well-connected pro-war Rybar Telegram channel has revealed that Surovikin “has not been seen since Saturday (June 24)”.

The military-linked channel stated: “The whereabouts of ‘General Armageddon’ is not known for certain.

“There is a version that he is under interrogation.”

The channel said that while Gerasimov formally retains his title he is “no longer involved in decisions of issues in the war.”

Surovikin was put in charge of the Russian war effort in October only to be stripped of responsibility by Putin in January – yet he remained as Gerasimov’s deputy.

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Before evidently disappearing, Surovikin issued a desperate call to Wagner on Saturday give up their opposition to the military leadership and return to their bases “before it is too late”.

He revealed he had been ordered back to Moscow from the frontline.

It now appears this may have been because of suspicions of his knowledge of the “coup” and suspected sympathy for it.

He said publicly at the time: “We cannot play into the enemy’s hands during this hard time for our country.

“Before it is not too late, it is necessary to obey the order of the popularly-elected president of the Russian Federation.”

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