Russian Chief of Staff reappears after Wagner’s Rebellion
Russian Chief of Staff and Commander of Military Operations in Ukraine Valeri Gerasimov made his first public appearance since the failed Wagner Group rebellion, which targeted him personally. A video, released Monday by the Russian Ministry of Defense, shows him chairing a meeting where he was informed of an attempt by the Ukrainian army to carry out missile strikes in Russia and against Crimea on Sunday.
During this meeting on an unspecified date, the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Aerospace Forces, General Viktor Afzalov, claims that three Ukrainian S-200 missiles were shot down by the anti-aircraft defense. “No casualties, no damage”, he says. According to him, these missiles targeted the vital Kerch bridge, between Russia and annexed Crimea, and the airfield of Morozovsk, in the Russian region of Rostov-on-the-Don, bordering Ukraine.
Two other Ukrainian S-200 missiles were neutralized thanks to electronic jamming systems, according to General Victor Afzalov.
Along with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Mr. Guerassimov, 67, was directly targeted by the flash revolt led from June 23 to 24 by Wagner’s boss, Evgueni Prigojine.
Since the failure of this mutiny, there have been rumors of reshuffles within the military command, particularly concerning General Sergueï Sourovikine, a longtime ally of Wagner. On the images of the meeting broadcast on Monday, Mr. Surovikin, still officially commander of the aerospace forces and one of Valeri Guerassimov’s assistants, was not present.