For the first time since Wagner’s mercenary military uprising, Valery Gerasimov, the Russian commander of the forces fighting in Ukraine, has reappeared. The tape, released by the Russian Ministry of Defense, shows Gerasimov listening to a report by subordinates about repelling Ukrainian attacks on Russian targets. He also issues commands.

Together with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Gerasimov is responsible for military operations during the war in Ukraine. Wagner’s boss Yevgeny Prigozhin regularly had conflicts with both of them, demanding their departure. After the Wagner Rebellion, the fate of Shoigu and Gerasimov remained unclear for some time. A few days later, Russia distributed photographs of Shoigu, but Gerasimov has not been heard from since.

Russia claims the photos are from last Sunday, but this cannot be independently verified. However, the fact that Gerasimov’s photos have ever been distributed, also referred to by his job name, indicates that he is still the commander in chief of forces in Ukraine.

Absent from the footage, General Sergei Surovikin. Surovikin was Gerasimov’s predecessor as commander in Ukraine and the current head of the Russian Air Force. It is assumed that Surovkin knew about Wagner’s plans for the rebellion. He was allegedly arrested and interrogated, but this has never been confirmed by the Kremlin.

Guram Paul

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