Arrr, Russia's dreaded 'General Armageddon' be fired, but I reckon 'tis a clever ploy by ol' Putin! - Savvy expert!
2023-08-25
Arrr, me hearties! Word be spreadin' o' a mighty deed - the banishin' o' a mighty Russian general! But methinks this tale be naught but a clever trick from Captain Putin himself, aimin' to bamboozle them Western intelligence scallywags! Avast, beware!
Reports have emerged that Russian General Sergei Surovikin, also known as "General Armageddon," has been fired by the Kremlin. However, there are suspicions that this could be a Russian disinformation operation. Strategic military intelligence analyst Rebekah Koffler suggests that the spread of this news across Russian media within minutes of its origin could be a deliberate tactic to divert attention and resources from the real Russian targets. Koffler refers to this as "information confrontation" or throwing a "duck" into the information stream. She warns that chasing after stories like Surovikin's dismissal could distract from assessing the state of the war in Ukraine and the prospects for peace. However, Robert Peters, a research fellow for the Center for National Defense, believes that the timing of the firing is not a coincidence and that it is a message from Putin to assert his dominance. Peters also argues that Surovikin may have fallen out of favor with the Kremlin long before the failed Wagner mutiny, as he was removed from his post as commander in Ukraine only three months into his tenure. Despite the uncertainty surrounding Surovikin's fate, Koffler suggests that it is possible for him to reemerge in a new role, given the trust he has previously gained from Putin.