Russian General Who Was Close to Wagner Appears in Africa

General Surovikin, who had not been seen for months after the Wagner rebellion, was part of the Russian Defense Ministry delegation working in Algeria.

Russia's Lenta news agency reported today that General Sergey Surovikin, former commander-in-chief of Russian forces in Ukraine, is present in the Russian Defense Ministry delegation working in Algeria.

The news came a day after military blogger Sergei Kolyasnikov posted photos of General Surovikin appearing at an event attended by many foreign officials, as well as talking with local officials.

"Sergey Vladimirovich Surovikin has already started work, although he has not yet been appointed to a new position. People with knowledge and experience like him will not be left alone, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces once said," Kolyasnikov said.

General Surovikin (right) in Algeria in a photo released today. Photo: Lenta — General Surovikin (right) in Algeria in a photo released today. Photo: *Lenta*

Algeria has maintained close relations with Russia for many years, especially in the economic and defense fields. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune signed a series of agreements in Moscow in June, including establishing a deep strategic partnership.

"It is clear that General Surovikin is still trusted at the highest level. This trip may be related to the decision to appoint him to a position that will have an impact on the foreign policy towards the east, which is being promoted by the leadership," said an unnamed source with knowledge of the situation.

Russian officials have not commented on the information.

This is the second time General Surovikin has appeared since the rebellion of the private military corporation Wagner in late June. Journalist Ksenia Sobchak, who has great influence in Russian public opinion and holds a stance supporting the war in Ukraine, on September 4 posted a photo of General Surovikin wearing civilian clothes and walking with his wife in the capital Moscow.

General Surovikin was born in 1966 in Novosibirsk, joined the Soviet Army and graduated from the Omsk Higher Combined Arms Command School with honors in 1987, then the Frunze Military Academy in 1995 and the Russian General Staff Academy in 2002. He has served in campaigns in Afghanistan, Chechnya, Syria and Ukraine.

Sergey Surovikin was dubbed the "general of destruction" during his time commanding Russian forces in Syria in 2017, when he created a turning point and reversed the situation, helping the Syrian government army liberate many territories controlled by the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) and the opposition.

In October 2022, Surovikin was appointed as the first Russian commander-in-chief of all forces in Ukraine. Russian officials announced in January that Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov would lead the operation, with Surovikin as his deputy.

General Sergey Surovikin at a meeting in November 2022. Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense

Surovikin is said to have good relations with the private military corporation Wagner and its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. Wagner boss has repeatedly praised General Surovikin as "the only one who knows how to fight", while frequently criticizing Russian defense officials, especially Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and Mr. Gerasimov.

When Wagner rebelled on June 24, General Surovikin called on the group to "resolve the problem peacefully" and asked them to "obey the will and orders of the Russian President." US media later cited intelligence sources saying that Surovikin knew in advance about Wagner's plans to rebel and was being investigated for whether he had helped the group.

Vu Anh (According to Lenta, Kommersant , Reuters )

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