Amid swirling whispers, Russian President Vladimir Putin appears hesitant to discipline General Sergei Surovikin, nicknamed "General Armageddon," despite suspicions of his involvement in an attempted coup d'etat, as gathered from RadarOnline.com.
The alleged coup was reportedly orchestrated by Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Russian Wagner mercenary group, who desired to depose Russia's defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, due to his handling of the Ukraine conflict. General Surovikin, one of Putin's top military officers, is suspected to have aided Prigozhin in his plans.
Nonetheless, Putin appears hesitant to reprimand Surovikin, allegedly due to the fear of inciting a revolt among the troops who regard the general favorably.
The high-ranking military officer, 56, has remained unseen in public since reports surfaced alleging his role in Prigozhin's purported coup.
Insiders from the Kremlin imply that rather than undergoing interrogation at the notorious Lefortovo Prison, Surovikin is keeping a low profile.
One insider confided to the Sun, "Shoigu fears Surovikin's resurgence."
In his defense to Putin, Shoigu labeled Surovikin a traitor. However, they hesitate to apprehend him as the officers support him, the source added.
Putin is reportedly grappling with a grave conundrum - how to quell the rising internal dissent while concurrently dealing with Ukraine's aggressive advances. His reluctance to punish Surovikin underscores the weakening of his power stronghold, revealing more fissures in his leadership.
Surovikin, who formerly served as the commander of forces in Ukraine, was reassigned in January to helm Russia's air force amidst coup speculations.
Regardless of these allegations, Veronika, Surovikin's daughter, asserts her father is safe and continues his service. She stated, "The Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces hasn't encountered any mishap. No arrests have been made, and everyone is performing their duties."
By avoiding decisive action, Putin risks fostering further dissent within his military ranks, which may further undermine his control and stability.
The ongoing divisions could jeopardize Russia's military competence, especially with Ukraine making continuous progress on the battlefield.