On Wednesday, a plane crash north of Moscow killed mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin and all 10 people on board, raising suspicions as Prigozhin had led a brief armed rebellion against the Russian military earlier this year. Gen. Sergei Surovikin, a top general linked to Prigozhin, was dismissed from his position as commander of the air force and has not been seen in public since the mutiny. The cause of the plane crash is still under investigation and it is unclear if Prigozhin’s death will be confirmed or if the crash was related to the mutiny.
Posts tagged as “Eastern Ukraine”
Russian General Sergei Surovikin has been dismissed from his post as head of the country’s Aerospace Forces, following speculation about his involvement with the Wagner mercenary rebellion. Colonel General Viktor Afzalov is now temporarily acting as Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces, as Russia seeks to modernize its armed forces. It is unclear what role, if any, Surovikin will have in the future.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military contractor, has released a video of himself in military fatigues and holding a rifle, hinting at his location in Africa. The video appears to be a recruitment drive for the Wagner Group, and the exact whereabouts of Prigozhin remain unknown. The Wagner Group has been linked to the Kremlin and has been active in Syria, Ukraine, and other countries, and Prigozhin has been sanctioned by the U.S.
Ukraine has made significant progress in its counteroffensive against Russian forces, with the United States providing military and financial support. Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren recently announced the delivery of F-16s to Ukraine, which will allow for the training of Ukrainian pilots. Ukrainian troops from the 108th Territorial Defense Brigade have been reclaiming occupied territory and advancing on Tokmak in their fight to reclaim the southeastern city of Melitopol.
Tensions between Russia and Georgia have been escalating, and were brought to the forefront when The Killers were heckled for bringing a Russian fan onstage during a concert in Georgia. The band has since apologized and expressed their hope to return to the country soon. The incident has highlighted the fears of the Georgian people that they could be the next Ukraine.
The White House has requested emergency funding from Congress for pandemic relief for the child care industry, replenishment of U.S. federal disaster funds, and aid for Ukraine. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Tina Smith have called on President Biden to address the looming expiration of pandemic relief funds in the package. The Biden administration has requested more than $13 billion in emergency defense aid to Ukraine and an additional $8 billion for humanitarian support.
The Secret Service of Ukraine (SSU) has arrested a woman in connection with an alleged assassination plot against President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Russia has launched more than 70 missiles and drones at Ukraine in recent weeks, resulting in two deaths and four injuries in a "large scale fire" in the northeast. The Ukrainian government has urged the international community to take action to prevent further escalation of the conflict.
This article discusses an attack on a Russian tanker in the Black Sea near Crimea late Friday. The Russian Foreign Ministry has condemned the attack as a "terrorist attack" and the Ukrainian Security Service has claimed responsibility for the incident. This attack is part of the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, and its repercussions are yet to be seen.