Russian general Sergey Surovikin arrested – report

<p>The Moscow Times <a href="https://www-moscowtimes-ru.translate.goog/2023/06/28/istochniki-v-minoboroni-soobschayut-ob-areste-generala-surovikina-a47384?_x_tr_sl=auto&amp;_x_tr_tl=en&amp;_x_tr_hl=en-US&amp;_x_tr_pto=wapp" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">reports </a>that Russian general Sergey Surovikin has been arrested.</p><p>A <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/27/us/politics/russian-general-prigozhin-rebellion.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">report </a>yesterday in the New York Times said he at least knew about Prigozhin's plans, citing US intelligence sources.</p><p>Surovikin is a major figure in the Russian military. He is currently head of the joint aerospace forces, which includes the air force. From Oct 2022-Jan 2023 he was the commander of all Russian forces in Ukraine.</p><p>He's known to be close to Prigozhin.</p><p>Rumours started about his arrest on June 25 and he hasn't been seen since then. </p><p>Surovikin did appear via video denouncing the uprising as it was occurring.</p><p>“I urge you to stop,” General Surovikin said in a message posted on Telegram. “The enemy is just waiting for the internal political situation to worsen in our country.”</p><p>Some though compared that to a hostage video.</p><p>The Moscow Times report says officials are trying to find out how much Surovikin may have known and whether he ever planned to participate. </p><p>Others are skeptical that he could have been involved given that Prigozhin's troops shot down at least 7 aircraft that were commanded by Surovikin.</p><p>In any case, the risks around Russia now and into the weekend are certainly far lower than they were a few days ago, but they haven't disappeared. If I were the US or UK intelligence community, I would be planting all kinds of stories about conspirators in an attempt to sow disunity and paranoia in Russian forces and Putin.</p>

This article was written by Adam Button at www.forexlive.com.