Sergey Surovikin

Sergey Surovikin, born on October 11, 1966, is a prominent Russian army general with a distinguished military career. He has recently taken on the role of head of the Coordinating Committee for Air Defence under the Council of Defence Ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) as of September 2023. His extensive experience includes serving as the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces from 2017 until August 2023, a position he held until his reported dismissal by Vladimir Putin due to alleged ties with the Wagner Group rebellion.

A veteran of several significant conflicts, Surovikin has participated in the Soviet–Afghan War, the Tajikistani Civil War, the Second Chechen War, and the Russian military intervention in Syria. Notably, he commanded all Russian forces in the Russo-Ukrainian war from October 2022 to January 2023, after which he was demoted to deputy commander. His leadership in Syria is credited with turning the tide in favor of President Bashar al-Assad, although it has also drawn criticism for alleged strikes on civilian targets.

During the tumultuous events of the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt, Surovikin commanded a unit that was involved in the deaths of three anti-coup demonstrators, leading to his detention for several months without conviction. He played a crucial role in establishing the Main Directorate of the Military Police within the Russian army and commanded the Eastern Military District from 2013 to 2017. His strategic acumen was further demonstrated when he led the Russian group of forces in Syria in 2017.

In the context of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, Surovikin initially commanded the Southern Grouping of Forces before being appointed as the overall commander of the invasion on October 8, 2022. However, he was replaced by Valery Gerasimov in January 2023. Following rumors of his arrest in late June 2023, his daughter asserted that he remained in contact with her, dispelling concerns about his detention. His recent official visit to Algeria has further confirmed his active status in military leadership.