The deputy commander of Russia’s armed forces functions in Ukraine, General Sergei Surovikin, has been detained by authorities amid a purge of armed service officials following a rise up by the Wagner Group of mercenaries, it has been claimed.

Citing Russian defense ministry resources, the Russian-language variation of The Moscow Situations said that Surovikin had been arrested for siding with Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, whose troops seized a armed service HQ in Rostov-on-Don and advanced on Moscow.

Russian military blogger, Vladimir Romanov, also noted Surovikin’s arrest on Wednesday even though the Institute for the Review of War explained that military “affiliates” of Surovikin experienced been accused of “complicity” in the mutiny.

Normal Sergei Surovikin, ex-commander of Russia’s army operation in Ukraine, is witnessed in an undisclosed locale on December 17, 2022. Surovikin has been detained amid a purge of military services officers pursuing a insurrection by the Wagner Group.
GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/Getty Photographs

Citing a Russian milblogger, the think tank explained a “significant-scale purge” of the Russian armed service command is underneath way.

The riot was stood down on Saturday following a noted offer negotiated by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, in which neither Prigozhin nor his fighters would encounter rates and the Wagner head would be exiled to Belarus.

Surovikin turned the commander of all Russian forces invading Ukraine in Oct 2022 but was changed by Valery Gerasimov in January 2023.

This is a breaking tale and will be updated with further facts.