Ukraine Briefly

June 30, 2023

Ukraine, Briefly

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This week, Russian authorities detained Gen. Sergei Surovikin, the deputy commander of Russia’s military operations in Ukraine over allegations that he sided with mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin during the short-lived rebellion over the weekend, Al Jazeera reported. His arrest comes as part of an alleged purge of military officials following a short-lived uprising by the Wagner mercenary forces over the weekend. Surovikin, who is known as “General Armageddon” in the Russian media due to his alleged ruthlessness, is a veteran of Russia’s conflicts in Chechnya and Syria and has received commendations from President Vladimir Putin.

Meanwhile, Prigozhin and members of his Wagner force will not face criminal charges for their role in the armed mutiny in Russia, the New York Times reported. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced the end of the criminal case, saying that the participants had “stopped their actions directly aimed at committing a crime.”

By way of contrast, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Wagner troops were preparing to hand over their military equipment to the army. The fate of Wagner’s heavily armed forces has been a lingering question following Prigozhin’s armed rebellion on June 24. President Putin had previously stated that all private armies fighting on behalf of Russia in Ukraine would have to come under the supervision of the Defense Ministry. However, the details of how much equipment would be relinquished and how many fighters would agree to be placed under the Russian Army’s command remain unclear. There is speculation that Wagner may keep some equipment and continue operating as a private militia in Africa, where they have been involved in alleged human rights abuses.

• Meanwhile, Prigozhin flew into exile in Belarus as part of a deal that ended the mutiny by his fighters as part of the deal brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Reuters added. Belarus offered an abandoned military base to the Wagner fighters, sparking concerns among neighboring countries. Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland called for NATO to strengthen its eastern borders. NATO reiterated its commitment to protecting every ally including those in Eastern Europe and the Baltics. Ukraine, now, hopes that the chaos caused by the rebellion attempt will weaken Russian defenses as Kyiv presses a counteroffensive.

• Russian convicts who joined the Wagner Group as mercenaries in Ukraine have been involved in violent crimes upon their return to Russia, according to CBS News. At least seven cases have been identified, including murder, sexual assault, robbery and theft. Wagner chief Prigozhin claimed to have recruited 50,000 convicts for Ukraine, promising them freedom after their service. At the same time, President Putin confirmed signing pardon decrees for convicts fighting in Ukraine. The use of convicts in the conflict has raised concerns about recidivism rates and the potential consequences for Russian society.

• The United Nations human rights office released a report detailing how Russian forces engaged in widespread and systematic torture of civilians detained in connection with the Ukraine conflict, the Associated Press wrote. The report documented over 900 cases of civilians, including children and elderly individuals, being arbitrarily detained, with the majority of cases attributed to Russia. The victims reported being subjected to torture and sexual violence during detention, with the purpose of forcing confessions, and compelling cooperation, especially those with pro-Ukrainian views. The report also highlighted 75 cases of arbitrary detention by Ukrainian security forces, with a significant number amounting to enforced disappearances. More than half of those detained by Ukrainian forces reported being mistreated or tortured. The Ukrainian government granted the UN investigators access to detainees, except for a group of 87 Russian sailors, while Russia denied such access. The report also noted that Ukrainian laws on detention for national security reasons may go beyond what is permissible under international law. The UN urged both sides to provide information on the fate and whereabouts of detainees.

This story originally appeared in the June 30, 2023 newsletter, AI, Meet Europe.