Photo: Reuters
The Russian general, who may have known about Wagner's failed mutiny, has not been seen since Saturday amid reports that he is arrested.
Gen. According to US intelligence sources, Sergei Surovikin, who has reportedly been missing since he recorded a hostage-style video when the coup began, may have known in advance of Mr. Prigozhin's armed insurgency.
Officials are trying to establish whether General Surovikin, who had a close relationship with Prigozhin, helped plan the rebellion.
Russian Defense Ministry sources told The Moscow Times on Wednesday that he had been arrested.
One source claimed that General Surovikin “choosed sides” with Mr. Prigozhin during his failed coup, and were concerns that he was part of the “Prigozhin coalition”.
Over the weekend, Sergei Surovikin addressed the leadership, commanders and soldiers of the PMC Wagner in the video. Photo: Getty
Chief Wagner had previously called General Surovikin the most capable commander in the Russian army.
General Surovikin worked closely with the head of Wagner, acting as a link between Moscow and the paramilitary group. He was demoted in January after a conflict with Putin over strategy.
“We fought together, we took risks, we won together,” Surovikin said in a video to Wagner fighters posted on Telegram in the early hours of Saturday.
“We are of the same blood, we are warriors. I urge you to stop. The enemy is just waiting for the internal political situation in our country to worsen.”
“There were just too many strange things that , in my opinion, suggest the existence of a collusion that we have not yet found out, ”Michael McFaul, a former US ambassador to Russia, told the New York Times.
“Think about how easy it was to take Rostov,” he added. “There are armed guards everywhere in Russia, and suddenly there is no one to do something?”
This happened when Vladimir Putin began to overhaul his security services after the failed coup, surrounding himself with supporters to regain his control.A source close to Mr. Prigozhin told the Financial Times that the security services “began cracking down on sympathizers.” and those who have broken their oaths.”
Viktor Zolotov, a Russian presidential ally and former presidential bodyguard, was promoted on Tuesday in the National Guard, which Putin says will play a big role in the war in Ukraine.
US officials are unsure if General Surovikin has taken any steps to support the uprising. Some don't think Mr. Prigozhin would have mutinied if he didn't think he had some backing.
Commenting on General Surovikin's coup claims, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that he expected “a lot of speculation”. around these events”, adding: “I think this is an example of that.”
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