Russia Names New Air Force Chief After Mutiny-Related Disappearance of ‘General Armageddon’ 

This pool photo distributed by Sputnik agency taken on December 31, 2022, shows Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shaking hands with commander of Russia's military operation in Ukraine General Sergei Surovikin (L), awarded with order of Saint George of the Third Class, during visit to the headquarters of the Southern Military District, at an unknown location in Russia. (AFP)
This pool photo distributed by Sputnik agency taken on December 31, 2022, shows Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shaking hands with commander of Russia's military operation in Ukraine General Sergei Surovikin (L), awarded with order of Saint George of the Third Class, during visit to the headquarters of the Southern Military District, at an unknown location in Russia. (AFP)
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Russia Names New Air Force Chief After Mutiny-Related Disappearance of ‘General Armageddon’ 

This pool photo distributed by Sputnik agency taken on December 31, 2022, shows Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shaking hands with commander of Russia's military operation in Ukraine General Sergei Surovikin (L), awarded with order of Saint George of the Third Class, during visit to the headquarters of the Southern Military District, at an unknown location in Russia. (AFP)
This pool photo distributed by Sputnik agency taken on December 31, 2022, shows Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shaking hands with commander of Russia's military operation in Ukraine General Sergei Surovikin (L), awarded with order of Saint George of the Third Class, during visit to the headquarters of the Southern Military District, at an unknown location in Russia. (AFP)

Russia has appointed a new acting head of its aerospace forces to replace Sergei Surovikin, nicknamed "General Armageddon", who vanished from view after a Wagner mercenary mutiny against the top brass, the RIA state news agency reported on Wednesday.

During the June 23-24 revolt, Surovikin, who once commanded Russia's overall war effort in Ukraine, appeared in a video, looking strained and without insignia, urging Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin to abandon his march on Moscow.

Since the mutiny, which was ended by negotiations and a deal, some Russian and foreign news outlets have said that Surovikin, who was often publicly praised by Prigozhin in the run-up to the revolt, was being investigated for possible complicity in it and being held under house arrest.

His reported removal suggests the authorities found fault with his behavior, but the details of his alleged wrongdoing remain unknown.

Russian news outlet RBC and Rybar, a Telegram channel close to the Ministry of Defense, on Tuesday reported that Surovikin had been removed from his position as the head of Russia's air force.

On Wednesday, RIA cited an unnamed source as saying: "Ex-chief of the Russian Air and Space Forces Sergei Surovikin has now been relieved of his post, while Colonel-General Viktor Afzalov, head of the Main Staff of the Air Force, is temporarily acting as commander-in-chief of the Air Force."

Reuters could not independently verify the report and there was no official confirmation.

Surovikin earned the nickname "General Armageddon" during Russia's military intervention in Syria for the brutal tactics he employed there.

He was placed in charge of Russian military operations in Ukraine last October, but in January that role was handed to General Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the general staff, and Surovikin was made a deputy to Gerasimov.

Afzalov was previously deputy to Surovikin and has been chief of staff of the Aerospace Forces for at least four years, according to British military intelligence.

During Surovikin's absence from public view, Afzalov was shown on television briefing Gerasimov last month.



Iran Extends Access to Airspace for Overflights after Ceasefire

People attend the funeral procession of Iranian military commanders, nuclear scientists and others killed in Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, June 28, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
People attend the funeral procession of Iranian military commanders, nuclear scientists and others killed in Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, June 28, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
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Iran Extends Access to Airspace for Overflights after Ceasefire

People attend the funeral procession of Iranian military commanders, nuclear scientists and others killed in Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, June 28, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
People attend the funeral procession of Iranian military commanders, nuclear scientists and others killed in Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, June 28, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

Iran has expanded access to its airspace for international overflights following a ceasefire with Israel, though flight restrictions remain in place across much of the country, an official said Saturday.

"In addition to the eastern half of the country's airspace being available for domestic, international and overflight operations, the airspace over the central and western parts of the country has now also been opened only for international overflights," Majid Akhavan, spokesman for the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, said in a statement carried by the IRNA state news agency.

Flights to and from airports in the north, south and west of the country, including Tehran's Mehrabad and Imam Khomeini international airports, remained suspended, according to Akhavan.

"All fellow citizens are requested not to go to airports located in the northern, southern and western regions of the country," he said, urging travelers to follow updates through official sources only.

The move comes after Iran reopened its eastern airspace on Wednesday, following a ceasefire that ended 12 days of fighting with Israel.

Iran had closed its skies entirely on June 13 after Israel launched a wave of airstrikes, prompting Iranian missile retaliation.

Airports now operating include Mashhad in eastern Iran -- which Israel claimed to have targeted during the conflict -- as well as Chabahar in the southeast.

Flights in other regions remain suspended until further notice.