Key players in Wagner mutiny
The armed rebellion by Yevgeny Prigozhin and his Wagner mercenary group has become a pretext for a purge in the ranks of the Russian Armed Forces

Yevgeny Prigozhin, 62: Former close ally of Putin. Wagner’s chief became embroiled in public feud
with Russia’s top officials – Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and top General Valery Gerasimov

Sergei Surovikin, 56: Nicknamed “General Armageddon.” Ruthless general and commander of Russia’s air force allegedly had advance knowledge of Prigozhin’s plans to rebel against Russia’s military leadership. Reportedly arrested

Vladimir Putin, 70: Russia’s President annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in 2014 and invaded Ukraine in February 2022 under pretext that country needed to be “demilitarized and de-Nazified”

Sergey Lavrov, 73: Russia’s top diplomat and Foreign Minister, is no longer part of Putin’s inner circle. Reportedly sidelined from decisions regarding Ukraine

Ramzan Kadyrov, 46: Leader of Russian republic of Chechnya – nicknamed “Putin’s attack dog.” Deployed some 3,000 fighters in bid to stop attempted coup

Sergei Shoigu, 68: Defence Minister since 2012 and veteran Putin ally. Oversaw annexation of Crimea and invasion of Ukraine. Rumours that Shoigu will be ousted if war fails

Valery Gerasimov, 67: Chief of the General Staff, replaced Surovikin as
top commander of war in Ukraine in January.
Has not been seen publicly or on TV since Saturday’s aborted coup. FSB security service is reportedly questioning him

Sources: Moscow Times, Politico, Reuters, Washington Post Pictures: Getty Images, Sputnik © GRAPHIC NEWS