Russians appoint new commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces instead of Surovikin
Pravda Ukraine
Viktor Afzalov became the commander of the Russian aerospace forces instead of Sergei Surovikin, as reported by Russian propaganda news agencies.
Source: Russian state-owned news agencies RBK, RIA Novosti
Details: Afzalov was already acting commander when Surovikin commanded the Joint Grouping of Troops and Forces in Ukraine. Last year in December, Afzalov received the rank of colonel general.
Background:
- On 11 September 2023, Surovikin was appointed as head of the Coordinating Committee for Air Defence under the Council of Defence Ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
- The Wall Street Journal, citing sources, reported on 13 July that the Russian secret service had detained at least 13 high-ranking military officers, including General Sergei Surovikin, in connection with Yevgeny Prigozhin’s mutiny; 15 officers were suspended or fired.
- On 22 August, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin dismissed General Sergei Surovikin as commander of Russia’s Aerospace Forces. Media reports say Surovikin was detained by Russian counterintelligence in connection with the rebellion led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, who is known to be linked to the general.
- On 5 September, The New York Times, citing its sources, reported that detained Surovikin was released several days after the death of Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in a plane crash.
- On 6 September, a page containing information about General Sergey Surovikin disappeared from the Russian Defence Ministry’s website.
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