Sergey Surovikin, former Commander of the russian Group of Forces in Ukraine, is reportedly carrying out a role as "head of a group of russian military specialists" at the russian Embassy in Algeria.
Several russian Embassy photographs appear to show a notably thinner Sergey Surovikin at an event dedicated to russia's May 9 Victory Day, in his probable first public appearance in an official role since 2023, the UK Defense Intelligence reports.
Read more: The UK Defense Intelligence: Still Loyal, Still Useful – Former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's Career Is Extended Despite Absence
Sergey Surovikin, also former commander-in-chief of the russian Aerospace Forces, was not seen in public for many months following the Wagner Group mutiny led by Yevgeny Prigozhin in June 2023, which was denounced by russian President Putin as treason.
Reports of Sergey Surovikin's arrest and detention in relation to the June 2023 Wagner Group mutiny were not publicly confirmed. The Ministry of Defense (MOD) of russia did not officially announce Sergey Surovikin's resignation. However, in September 2023, references to him were reportedly removed from the MOD's website.
Apparently, russian authorities were suspicious of Sergey Surovikin's long association with the Wagner Group dating back to his service in Syria, a notable operational nexus for the group, from 2017. Sergey Surovikin also served as point of contact for the Wagner Group with the Ministry.
As Defense Express previously reported, russian Security Council Secretary and former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's military contract has reportedly been extended for a further 5 years to run until 2030, when he will turn 75 years old. Sergei Shoigu, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, reportedly missed russia's May 9, 2025, Victory Day parade in Moscow for health-related reasons.
Read more: The UK Defense Intelligence: russia Advances 5 km Near Kostiantynivka, Cuts the H-32 Highway
