On Thursday, the Kremlin refused to answer journalists' questions regarding Russian General Sergei Surovikin, whose status and whereabouts have not been disclosed since the military mutiny by the private Russian military group Wagner, which was thwarted last Saturday.
Surovikin has not been seen since Saturday when he appeared in a video pleading with Wagner group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin to end the rebellion. He looked exhausted in the video, and it was unclear if he was speaking under duress. Since then, unconfirmed reports have suggested that security agencies are investigating him.
Surovikin, nicknamed "General Armageddon" in Russian media for his brutal tactics in the Syrian conflict, serves as the deputy commander of Russian forces in Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov referred questions about Surovikin to the Ministry of Defense, which has not yet issued a statement regarding him. When journalists asked whether the Kremlin could clarify Surovikin's status, Peskov replied, "No, unfortunately not," adding, "I recommend you contact the Ministry of Defense; this is their area of expertise."
When a journalist inquired if Russian President Vladimir Putin still trusts Surovikin, Peskov responded, "He is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and works with the Minister of Defense and the Chief of the General Staff."
Peskov further stated that questions about "structural units within the ministry" should be directed to the Ministry of Defense. When asked about Prigozhin's whereabouts after a Wagner-associated plane flew from St. Petersburg to Moscow, Peskov said he had no information regarding Prigozhin's current location.
