Russia Appoints New Aviation Commander After Surovikin’s Resignation

• 21.10.2023, 0:06

Who is the man?

Russia has appointed a new commander-in-chief of the Aerospace Forces. This position could be taken by Viktor Afzalov.

Charter97.org reports this with a reference to the Russian propaganda publication RIA Novosti.

“Colonel General Viktor Afzalov has been appointed commander-in-chief of the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation,” the message says.

It is noted that he allegedly took this position after Sergei Surovikin resigned. It was not officially mentioned by the Russian Ministry of Defense either.

Viktor Afzalov was born in 1968. He was the head of the crew of the combat control department of a group of anti-aircraft missile divisions of the air defense corps, and rose to the rank of chief of staff — first deputy commander of the air force and air defense armies.

In October 2022, General Surovikin was appointed commander of the occupation forces in Ukraine, and he was replaced as commander-in-chief of the Aerospace Forces by his first deputy, Viktor Afzalov.

After Prigozhin’s unsuccessful demarche, publications from Western media began to appear that Surovikin had been detained, and he had allegedly been interrogated by the military. They were interested in the general’s connection with Prigozhin.

Russian officials tried to deny such rumors and said that Surovikin was on vacation. However, later information appeared in the Russian media that the general was detained by the FSB.