Colonel-General Sergei Surovikin, who until recently led the Russian grouping of troops in Syria, has been appointed commander-in-chief of the country's aerospace forces.
Surovikin was born on October 11, 1966 in Novosibirsk. 30 years ago with a gold medal he graduated from the Omsk Higher Combined Arms command school. In 1995 he graduated with honors from the command faculty of the Military Academy. M. V. Frunze. And 15 years ago, also with honors - military academy General Staff.
He fought in Afghanistan and Chechnya. Was wounded three times. He commanded a platoon, company, battalion, regiment, division, army. He was chief of staff and commander of the military district, chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff.
Since March 2017, he has led the Russian grouping of troops in Syria.
Awarded with orders Red Star, "For Military Merit", as well as three Orders of Courage, medals of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" I and II degrees, medals "For Courage", "For Military Merit", "For Distinction in Guard state border" and etc .
Married, has two daughters.
4 LITTLE KNOWN FACTS
1. In 1989, during the exercises, Surovikin stole a flaming infantry fighting vehicle with ammunition from a congestion of military personnel, and was awarded a medal.
2. On August 21, 1991 (during the GKChP), a military convoy headed from the Moscow region to the capital, commanded by Surovikin, was blocked by protesters. As a result of direct contact, three people died (the only victims of the putsch), and an infantry fighting vehicle was burned.
3. Surovikin was arrested, but in December 1991 the Moscow prosecutor's office dropped the criminal case against him and other servicemen "due to the absence of signs of a criminally punishable act." They say that Boris Yeltsin personally gave the order to release Captain Surovikin.
4. In October 2012, he was the only military man on the list of the 100 most authoritative people in Russia, compiled by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM) and the Russian Reporter magazine.
WHY CHOOSE HIM?
Knowledgeable people it is said that after the 2015 merger of the Air Force and the Space Defense Forces into one branch of the armed forces, "there was jealous friction between pilots and astronauts" over who should command the new formation. We decided to appoint an “outsider” to the main post in the Aerospace Forces. You will not catch him in professional sympathies for some subordinates and a cool attitude towards others. When selecting a candidate for the new Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces, other factors were also taken into account - his ability to restore order in subordinate units with an “iron fist” and an impressive track record (besides, Surovikin underwent an excellent “internship” in Syria, where military aviation was also under his command).
The Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces, Colonel General Sergei Surovikin, surprised observers with dark spots in his biography.
In the biography of Colonel General Sergei Surovikin there are facts that are incompatible with the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Military Space Forces (VKS). It is possible that he received the position for commanding a group of troops in Syria since 2015.
"It is under the command of Colonel General Sergei Surovikin that the Russian grouping of troops in Syria, in cooperation with the Syrian armed forces achieved maximum success in the fight against international terrorism, almost destroying its stronghold in this Arab republic," wrote the newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda. the position was taken by a general with no flying education, and some even questioned Surovikin's merits in Syria.
"To the achievements of this" shelled fighter ", one can add the most sensitive losses of Russia in Syria, for the entire time of the group's existence. The death of General Asapov and several colonels, the biggest losses of PMCs ... Surovikin could not organize a crossing across the Euphrates River in Deir ez-Zor , and block the Kurds. Therefore, it is his merit that the Kurds got the largest oil fields, and 75% of all Syrian oil. Surovikin is clearly not the one who successfully led the group in Syria "- this is what one of the readers wrote in a comment to an article about appointment of Surovikin.
Other dark spots in the general's biography also surfaced. Yes, such that you involuntarily wonder if the Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu made a terrible mistake by writing a presentation on Surovikin. Or the concept of officer honor in Russian army under Shoigu ceased to exist? Not only is the military department constantly stealing, as the media have repeatedly written about. They also appoint such a general to responsible positions, which, apparently, has long been out of place in the army. And one wonders how he still serves in it, having unseemly "exploits" behind his back. Another would be in his place, having soiled the honor of his uniform, and could have shot himself.
"Battle way" Surovikin
In 1991, during the August coup, an armored personnel carrier of the then captain Surovikin, commander of the battalion of the Taman division, crushed three picketers, who later became the last Heroes Soviet Union. Thus, Captain Surovikin fulfilled the order to "establish constitutional order" issued by the leaders of the State Emergency Committee. Since then, Surovikin has not dreamed of bloody boys?
Apparently not, because, after serving 7 months in "Matrosskaya Tishina", Sergei Surovikin went on to serve further. And in 1995 he almost went to jail again. A student of the Frunze Military Academy, Major Surovikin, was accused of illegal arms trafficking. For which he received 1 year probation. Surovikin was detained while trying to hand over the gun. The major, of course, said that he was set up and had no idea about the true purpose of the transfer of weapons. Some baby talk for a whole major.
This story surfaced only in 2011, when Sergei Surovikin was creating the military police and preparing to head it. Chief Military Prosecutor Sergei Fridinsky sent a letter to the then Minister of Defense Anatoly Serdyukov.
The prosecutor pointed out in it that, according to Article 20 of the draft federal law "On the Military Police of the Armed Forces", there is a ban on serving in the military police of citizens who have or had a criminal record. That is, even with the conviction removed, Surovikin, according to the law, did not have the right to hold this position.
Naturally, Surovikin called this letter an attempt to denigrate his honor and dignity. And many years later he went to court, which removed his criminal record. However, Sergei Surovikin was not appointed to the post of chief military policeman.
Officer Surovikin apparently knew firsthand about honor and dignity. He crushed people, received a criminal record, and there - about the honor to talk. Moreover, in his biography by this time there were other cases that clearly demonstrate Surovikin's concepts of officer honor. Lieutenant Colonel Viktor Tsibizov turned to the military prosecutor's office with a complaint that he was beaten by the head of the division, Major General Sergei Surovikin. According to Tsibizov, this was due to the fact that he did not want to vote for the candidate who was unofficially supported by Surovikin.
The scene of the beating probably resembled the scene that can be observed in the barracks, when older soldiers mock the young ones. This is called "hazing relationship". Tsibizov said that Surovikin, his adjutant and deputy for educational work beat him on the chest and pushed him. Would Surovikin behave like this one on one? Or I would be afraid to get change. And the three of us for one - it's like a man. What honor can these officers speak of?
Sergei Surovikin reacted in his usual style. He didn’t hit anyone and he doesn’t know anything about the incident. And he promised ... to fire the colonel for allegedly being absent from work for a month. Tsibizov worked at the election headquarters during this time. In general, Surovikin reacted to the incident with dignity and honor.
Viktor Tsibizov took the statement from the prosecutor's office. Apparently, Sergei Surovikin put pressure on him, threatening him with dismissal and refusal to provide the lieutenant colonel with an apartment. He openly took advantage of his official position. A month later, another incident occurred. Lieutenant Colonel Andrey Shtakal committed suicide in front of his colleagues after the dressing of Sergei Surovikin. Sergey Surovikin, apparently, was not shy in expressions and the conversation was, to put it mildly, in a raised voice. It is possible that Surovikin cursed the colonel with a three-story obscenity, as some narrow-minded military commanders like to do. They do not have enough vocabulary when talking with a subordinate. Duels in modern army no, here the oruns feel their impunity. Shtakal pulled out a pistol and shot himself in the temple. Save the lieutenant colonel, whom his colleagues called decent and a good man, failed.
Sergei Surovikin did not suffer any punishment. Is he to blame for the lieutenant colonel's excessive emotionality? Here are just a charter of the internal service clearly defines how the chief should communicate with his subordinate in the army. And there is no elevated tone in the charter. However, like the mat, pushes and punches in the chest.
These two cases vividly characterize Sergyai Surovikin. There is a type of people who revel in their power over others. And the more they get it, the more they believe in their impunity. And the rest for them - dirt under their feet.
Fighting girlfriend
Oddly enough, but attention to the personality of Sergei Surovikin was attracted by his wife Anna. They say that she once promoted him before a possible appointment to the post of chief of the military police. Then, perhaps, she used newspapers, and now - telegram channels. Surovikin's wife is what you need - a business woman and a real fighting girlfriend. Why should she not pay for the laudatory pearls addressed to her husband? He probably doesn’t push her in the chest and doesn’t yell at her with obscenities.
Anna Surovikina does business together with Anastasia Misharina, daughter of the ex-governor of the Sverdlovsk region Alexander Misharin. They own the Argus group of companies. At one time, instead of 80 million rubles. paid for electricity only 6 million rubles. "Argus-Forest" was allocated 300 million rubles. from the city budget for the construction of a thermal power plant, which was supposed to work on its waste. In general, apparently, the Surovikins and Misharins "drank" to glory.
What interests could the chief of staff of the central military district, Sergei Surovikin, and the then governor Alexander Misharin have? Probably free labor. It's no secret that a soldier military units often used for various kinds of work. This, of course, is prohibited. But out of friendship, the chief can always give the appropriate order to his subordinate commanders. Evil tongues could also suspect Surovikin of organizing drug trafficking to Yekaterinburg. At one time, Surovikin served as chief of staff 201 motorized rifle division, which was supposed to stop drug trafficking from Afghanistan to Russia and Europe. But why would Surovikin and Mesharin be involved in the supply of drugs to the Sverdlovsk region? She has enough of them.
Scandal with paratroopers
In 2015, Sergei Surovikin almost got into an international scandal. The Ministry of Defense, apparently, wanted to secretly transfer a group of paratroopers to Syria. But they refused and complained to the Human Rights Council under the President of Russia (HRC). The servicemen were to be transferred from the Eastern Military District to Novorossiysk, and from there to Syria. According to the paratroopers, they collected documents for the production of passports. The local military prosecutor's office refused to accept the application of the servicemen who came to it the day before the departure. I had to contact the HRC.
After that, the Ministry of Defense immediately stated that all military personnel were in their places and their movement was carried out only within the district. The scandal even had to be commented on by the presidential press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, who said that he knew nothing about the movements of contract soldiers. Who could lead this covert operation, if there was one after all? Only Sergei Surovikin, who worked on two fronts: the district and the group in Syria. The former Commander-in-Chief of the VKS, Viktor Bondarev, is now a member of the Federation Council from the Kirov Region. Apparently, he was not forgiven for falling rockets all the time. And who was appointed to take his place? Does the scandalous general have the right to hold such a position?
Under the current leadership of the Ministry of Defense, apparently, yes. Sergei Shoigu is probably not familiar with the moral and ethical standards adopted in society. And according to them, such a person as Sergei Surovikin should not only be appointed to the post of Commander-in-Chief, but should be driven out of the army. Because all his scandals are an example of what an officer of the Russian army should not be. Especially a general and a major military leader.
On Wednesday, perhaps the main military personnel intrigue of recent months was resolved. The army newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda reported that by decree of the President of the Russian Federation of November 22, Colonel-General Sergei Surovikin was appointed commander-in-chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
This decree was not posted on the official website of the Kremlin. However, given the specifics of the printed edition, there is no doubt: the appointment of Surovikin really took place. It would seem that a worthy general was promoted through the ranks, what is unusual here? Moreover, many media outlets began talking about his promotion to a higher position back in mid-autumn.
Unusualness is not in Surovikin's career growth, but in the post that he took. The fact is that this general is a 100% ground soldier. Perhaps for the first time in the history of Russian and even Soviet army the "infantry" commander was put in charge of aviation. More precisely, under the command of Surovikin are now not only the Air Force of the country, but also the air defense, space and missile defense forces of Russia.
It is clear that such a seemingly paradoxical personnel decision was not taken by chance. When we are talking about appointments at the highest command level of the Armed Forces, by definition, there can be no accidents. Each candidate for nomination must be comprehensively discussed in various instances. And only then this candidacy is submitted for approval to the head of state.
Why did the choice fall on Sergei Surovikin? The answer, I think, is connected not only with his enviable military career although it deserves special attention. At 51, the general managed to command a division, an army and a district, work in senior positions in the General Staff and central office Ministry of Defense. And not only with his brilliant education - Surovikin graduated from the combined arms command school and two academies, including the Academy of the General Staff.
In Syria, General Surovikin gained vast experience in controlling aviation in real combat conditions.
When he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces, the decisive factor, most likely, was the combat experience in controlling aviation in a real combat situation, acquired by Surovikin as commander of the Russian group of troops in Syria. By the way, de facto he still performs these complex duties.
Recall that the core of our military contingent in Syria is military aviation. Any major operation against terrorists is not complete without her participation. And the commander of the grouping is entirely responsible for planning and conducting this operation.
The same applies to combat operations in which other types and types of troops participate. All their combat work is also coordinated by the commander.
That is, we are talking about the management of entire interspecific groupings of troops. Surovikin has been doing this kind of work in Syria in recent months. The results of this work are well known - with the support of our Aerospace Forces, the Syrian government troops have practically liberated the country's territory from terrorists.
As for the commander himself, according to many experts, he gained vast experience in controlling aviation in real combat conditions in Syria.
Not all flight generals can boast of such command skills today. So the appointment of Sergei Surovikin as Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces looks quite logical.
Colonel-General Sergei Surovikin, who until recently led the Russian grouping of troops in Syria, has been appointed commander-in-chief of the country's aerospace forces.
Surovikin was born on October 11, 1966 in Novosibirsk. 30 years ago he graduated from the Omsk Higher Combined Arms Command School with a gold medal. In 1995 he graduated with honors from the command faculty of the Military Academy. M. V. Frunze. And 15 years ago, also with honors - the Military Academy of the General Staff.
He fought in Afghanistan and Chechnya. Was wounded three times. He commanded a platoon, company, battalion, regiment, division, army. He was chief of staff and commander of the military district, chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff.
Since March 2017, he has led the Russian grouping of troops in Syria.
He was awarded the Orders of the Red Star, "For Military Merit", as well as three Orders of Courage, medals of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" I and II degrees, medals "For Courage", "For Military Merit", "For Distinction in the Protection of the State Border" and etc .
Married, has two daughters.
4 LITTLE KNOWN FACTS
1. In 1989, during the exercises, Surovikin stole a flaming infantry fighting vehicle with ammunition from a congestion of military personnel, and was awarded a medal.
2. On August 21, 1991 (during the GKChP), a military convoy headed from the Moscow region to the capital, commanded by Surovikin, was blocked by protesters. As a result of direct contact, three people died (the only victims of the putsch), and an infantry fighting vehicle was burned.
3. Surovikin was arrested, but in December 1991 the Moscow prosecutor's office dropped the criminal case against him and other servicemen "due to the absence of signs of a criminally punishable act." They say that Boris Yeltsin personally gave the order to release Captain Surovikin.
4. In October 2012, he was the only military man on the list of the 100 most authoritative people in Russia, compiled by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM) and the Russian Reporter magazine.
WHY CHOOSE HIM?
Those in the know say that after the 2015 merger of the Air Force and the Space Defense Forces into one branch of the armed forces, "there was jealous friction between pilots and astronauts" over who should command the new formation. We decided to appoint an “outsider” to the main post in the Aerospace Forces. You will not catch him in professional sympathies for some subordinates and a cool attitude towards others. When selecting a candidate for the new Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces, other factors were also taken into account - his ability to restore order in subordinate units with an “iron fist” and an impressive track record (besides, Surovikin underwent an excellent “internship” in Syria, where military aviation was also under his command).
