Russia removes General Surovikin from aerospace command

Sergei Surovikin, the general once responsible for leading Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has officially been dismissed as head of the country’s aerospace forces.

“Army General Sergei Surovikin has been relieved of his position in connection with his transfer to a different role,” a defence personnel source told Russia’s RBC on August 22, according to The Times.

The source added that “he is currently on a short holiday”.

Russian journalist Alexei Venediktov Venediktov who is the former head of the now-closed radio station Ekho Moskvy reported in a post on Telegram on August 22 that Surovikin had been removed from his position by official decree.

"In fact, the official decree did not change anything: Surovikin was removed immediately after [Yevgeny] Prigozhin's mutiny (on 24 June)," the post said.

Prominent pro-war Telegram channel Rybar reported that Surovikin's "official removal" had been known "for a couple of days" already.

Following the Wagner mercenary group chief's mutiny in June, Russian online outlet Verstka reported on July 12 that Surovikin had been detained by the Federal Security Service (FSB) on suspicion of involvement in organising the mutiny.

Surovikin, who had successfully overseen Russia's counter-insurgency campaign in Syria, was appointed as the commander of the Aerospace Force.