Top Russian general, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, was shown in a video released by the defence ministry, on Monday (July 10), ordering officers to destroy Ukrainian missile sites, in his first public appearance since the aborted Wagner mutiny last month. This also comes days after the Russian defence minister made his first public appearance since the mercenary group’s attempted coup. 
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<h2>What was the video about?</h2>

In the footage released by the Russian defence ministry and also shown on state TV, Gerasimov was seen sitting in a military command centre chairing a meeting with top generals, reported Reuters. The 67-year-old top Russian general asked for and then listened to a report by Viktor Afzalov, a deputy in the aerospace forces to General Sergei Surovikin.&nbsp;

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Surovikin has yet to make a public appearance, and his whereabouts remain unclear. The meeting seen in the footage was said to have taken place on Sunday and also described Gerasimov as the general staff of the Russian armed forces and commander of Moscow’s forces in Ukraine, which are positions he held prior to the Wagner mutiny.&nbsp;

In the video, Gerasimov was being briefed about a Ukrainian missile attack over Crimea and the Rostov region, which Russian officials reported on Sunday. Russia also claimed that it intercepted both missiles, one near the city of Kerch in the Crimean peninsula which Moscow annexed in 2014 and another in the Rostov region, close to the Ukrainian border.&nbsp;

Russia’s top general was seen ordering a response to the attacks, where no casualties and some damage to the buildings in the Rostov region were reported by officials. Gerasimov said, “We note that the aerospace forces have coped with the task (of shooting down the missiles),” reported Reuters.&nbsp;

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Subsequently, he also asked the aerospace forces and GRU (Main Intelligence Directorate) military intelligence to identify “the storage sites and launch positions of the missiles and other enemy strike weapons to plan a preemptive strike”.&nbsp;

Notably, the faces of most of the participants in the video call were blurred out except for Surovikin’s deputy Afzalov. Additionally, Gerasimov’s subordinates Colonel-General Sergei Rudskoi and Colonel-General Alexei Kim were also seen in the video released on Monday, reported Reuters.&nbsp;

<h2>What do these public appearances mean?</h2>

The recent footage released also comes after the defence ministry, on Saturday, said Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu inspected troops and oversaw the training of the newly formed units made up of contracted servicemen.&nbsp;

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It was the defence minister’s first public appearance since last month’s aborted mutiny by the Wagner mercenary group. The Russian ministry also released footage on Telegram which shows Shoigu in khaki military fatigues inspecting soldiers at a shooting range, reported Reuters.

The recent footage and first public appearances indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin retained his two most powerful military men Shoigu and Gerasimov. This was despite repeated criticism and demands from Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin who called for them to be sacked over alleged incompetence amid Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine.&nbsp;

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On June 24, Prigozhin announced a coup against the Kremlin amid growing discontent with the top Russian defence officials. The mercenary group’s fighters took control of Rostov-on-Don, which is one of Russia’s largest cities, but did not proceed further saying that they wanted to avoid “shedding Russian blood” and agreed to live in exile in Belarus.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
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Top Russian general, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, was shown in a video released by the defence ministry, on Monday (July 10), ordering officers to destroy Ukrainian missile sites, in his first public appearance since the aborted Wagner mutiny last month.

Top Russian general, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, was shown in a video released by the defence ministry, on Monday (July 10), ordering officers to destroy Ukrainian missile sites, in his first public appearance since the aborted Wagner mutiny last month. This also comes days after the Russian defence minister made his first public appearance since the mercenary group’s attempted coup. What was the video about? In the footage released by the Russian defence ministry and also shown on state TV, Gerasimov was seen sitting in a military command centre chairing a meeting with top generals, reported Reuters. The 67-year-old top Russian general asked for and then listened to a report by Viktor Afzalov, a deputy in the aerospace forces to General Sergei Surovikin. ALSO READ | Vladimir Putin met Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin five days after failed coup attempt: Kremlin Surovikin has yet to make a public appearance, and his whereabouts remain unclear. The meeting seen in the footage was said to have taken place on Sunday and also described Gerasimov as the general staff of the Russian armed forces and commander of Moscow’s forces in Ukraine, which are positions he held prior to the Wagner mutiny. In the video, Gerasimov was being briefed about a Ukrainian missile attack over Crimea and the Rostov region, which Russian officials reported on Sunday. Russia also claimed that it intercepted both missiles, one near the city of Kerch in the Crimean peninsula which Moscow annexed in 2014 and another in the Rostov region, close to the Ukrainian border. Russia’s top general was seen ordering a response to the attacks, where no casualties and some damage to the buildings in the Rostov region were reported by officials. Gerasimov said, “We note that the aerospace forces have coped with the task (of shooting down the missiles),” reported Reuters. ALSO READ | Ukrainian official seemingly claims responsibility for Crimea bridge blast Subsequently, he also asked the aerospace forces and GRU (Main Intelligence Directorate) military intelligence to identify “the storage sites and launch positions of the missiles and other enemy strike weapons to plan a preemptive strike”. Notably, the faces of most of the participants in the video call were blurred out except for Surovikin’s deputy Afzalov. Additionally, Gerasimov’s subordinates Colonel-General Sergei Rudskoi and Colonel-General Alexei Kim were also seen in the video released on Monday, reported Reuters. What do these public appearances mean? The recent footage released also comes after the defence ministry, on Saturday, said Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu inspected troops and oversaw the training of the newly formed units made up of contracted servicemen. ALSO READ | Russian general who went missing after Wagner’s uprising arrested: Report It was the defence minister’s first public appearance since last month’s aborted mutiny by the Wagner mercenary group. The Russian ministry also released footage on Telegram which shows Shoigu in khaki military fatigues inspecting soldiers at a shooting range, reported Reuters. The recent footage and first public appearances indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin retained his two most powerful military men Shoigu and Gerasimov. This was despite repeated criticism and demands from Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin who called for them to be sacked over alleged incompetence amid Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine. ALSO READ | At least eight killed, 13 injured in Russian shelling at residential area in eastern Ukraine On June 24, Prigozhin announced a coup against the Kremlin amid growing discontent with the top Russian defence officials. The mercenary group’s fighters took control of Rostov-on-Don, which is one of Russia’s largest cities, but did not proceed further saying that they wanted to avoid “shedding Russian blood” and agreed to live in exile in Belarus. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Russia’s top general Valery Gerasimov makes first public appearance since aborted Wagner mutiny

Russia's defence minister reappeared on television images broadcast Saturday, after his two-week absence from view prompted questions from journalists.

In the video, uploaded on social media, Shoigu said he had discussed issues related to the military budget and defence orders with the finance ministry.

"We continue ahead-of-schedule delivery of weaponry and equipment by means of credits. The priorities are long-range high-precision weapons, aircraft equipment and maintenance of engagement readiness of strategic nuclear forces," said Shoigu, who is overseeing what Russia calls its special military operation in Ukraine.

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The meeting was attended by a number of top Russian army officials including the chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, who also had not been seen in public recently.

Shoigu appeared on screen in a video clip of a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and his Security Council on Thursday, but was not shown speaking.

Prior to that, he had not been seen in public since March 11, fuelling speculation about his whereabouts. Some Russian media reports have speculated that Shoigu could have health problems.

On Saturday, the defence ministry denied reports that Shoigu had suffered a heart attack and was in hospital.

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Writing on messaging app Telegram, the ministry said that reports saying that Shoigu was recovering at Moscow's Burdenko military hospital were "obviously fake".

In early March, Russia imposed prison terms of up to 15 years for publishing "fake" news about the army.

Security and defence analyst, Michael Clarke, said the recent silence from Shoigu and Gerasimov is significant.

He said: "Their silence indicates that this operation has not gone to plan, otherwise they would have given daily updates at the most senior level.

"The speculation is that they are in disgrace and the loyalty of the armed forces at senior levels may be in doubt."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-reveals-military-death-toll-amid-heavy-fighting-in-kherson-465622" hreflang="en">Russia reveals military death toll amid heavy fighting in Kherson</a>

Earlier this week, the Kremlin referred to a conversation between the minister and Putin on the occasion of a report on developments of the "special military operation" at a meeting of the Russian security council, brushing aside speculation about Shoigu's prolonged absence.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov sought to quell rumours, telling journalists: "The defence minister has a lot to take care of at the moment. There is a special military operation going on.

"This is not the moment for media activity," he added.

Defence minister since 2012, he has sometimes been tipped as a potential successor to Putin in the Kremlin. He and Putin have been pictured in Siberia taking holidays together, fishing and picking mushrooms.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Russia's defence minister reappeared on television images broadcast Saturday, after his two-week absence from view prompted questions from journalists. In the video, uploaded on social media, Shoigu said he had discussed issues related to the military budget and defence orders with the finance ministry.

Russia's defence minister reappeared on television images broadcast Saturday, after his two-week absence from view prompted questions from journalists. In the video, uploaded on social media, Shoigu said he had discussed issues related to the military budget and defence orders with the finance ministry. "We continue ahead-of-schedule delivery of weaponry and equipment by means of credits. The priorities are long-range high-precision weapons, aircraft equipment and maintenance of engagement readiness of strategic nuclear forces," said Shoigu, who is overseeing what Russia calls its special military operation in Ukraine. The meeting was attended by a number of top Russian army officials including the chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, who also had not been seen in public recently. Shoigu appeared on screen in a video clip of a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and his Security Council on Thursday, but was not shown speaking. Prior to that, he had not been seen in public since March 11, fuelling speculation about his whereabouts. Some Russian media reports have speculated that Shoigu could have health problems. On Saturday, the defence ministry denied reports that Shoigu had suffered a heart attack and was in hospital. Also see | How could Russian President Vladimir Putin be prosecuted for war crimes in Ukraine? Writing on messaging app Telegram, the ministry said that reports saying that Shoigu was recovering at Moscow's Burdenko military hospital were "obviously fake". In early March, Russia imposed prison terms of up to 15 years for publishing "fake" news about the army. Security and defence analyst, Michael Clarke, said the recent silence from Shoigu and Gerasimov is significant. He said: "Their silence indicates that this operation has not gone to plan, otherwise they would have given daily updates at the most senior level. "The speculation is that they are in disgrace and the loyalty of the armed forces at senior levels may be in doubt." Also read | Russia reveals military death toll amid heavy fighting in Kherson Earlier this week, the Kremlin referred to a conversation between the minister and Putin on the occasion of a report on developments of the "special military operation" at a meeting of the Russian security council, brushing aside speculation about Shoigu's prolonged absence. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov sought to quell rumours, telling journalists: "The defence minister has a lot to take care of at the moment. There is a special military operation going on. "This is not the moment for media activity," he added. Defence minister since 2012, he has sometimes been tipped as a potential successor to Putin in the Kremlin. He and Putin have been pictured in Siberia taking holidays together, fishing and picking mushrooms. (With inputs from agencies)

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Russia’s top general Valery Gerasimov makes first public appearance since aborted Wagner mutiny

Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu reappears amid speculation over whereabouts