A few days ago, Russian General Gennady Zhidko reportedly died from an “illness.” He briefly commanded the Russian war effort in Ukraine last year, before getting fired “for failures during military operations.” President Putin conferenced his generals following Zhidko’s demise, perhaps in order to ensure that they would all stay in line for what was to follow…
President Putin replaced Zhidko’s successor, General Sergei Surovikin, after just three months, with General Valery Gerasimov in January. At that time, Surovikin rotated into command of the Russian air forces. However, he vanished from the scene in June, reportedly arrested for his involvement in Wagner’s March of Justice. One target of the march, declared by Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, was of course Gerasimov, who continues to command Russian forces in Ukraine.
Today we learn that Surovikin has been officially relieved of duties, and that Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin is dead:
Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin is dead, a Telegram channel affiliated with his Wagner mercenary group reported on Wednesday.
“The head of the Wagner Group, a Hero of Russia, a true patriot of his Motherland – Yevgeny Viktorovich Prigozhin died as a result of the actions of traitors to Russia,” a post in the Grey Zone channel said.
“But even in Hell, he will be the best! Glory to Russia!”
Prigozhin was listed as a passenger on a private jet which crashed on Wednesday evening north of Moscow with no survivors, the Russian authorities said.
How Wagner will respond to this — and how Wagner’s response will affect Russia’s ongoing operations from Europe and Africa to the Middle East — could possibly be a game-changer for the war in Ukraine.