Russian Gen. Sergey Surovikin may have been a covert VIP member of the Wagner private military corporation, according to documents given only with CNN.
According to the documents, Surovikin had a personal registration number with Wagner, according to the Russian investigative Dossier Centre.
At least 30 other top-ranking Russian military and intelligence personnel who, according to the Dossier Centre, are also VIP Wagner members are mentioned with Surovikin.
Surovikin has not been seen in public since last Saturday, when he released a video pleading for Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin to stop his insurrection. His whereabouts have since remained unknown.
Surovikin is a decorated commander of the Russian Air Force and became nicknamed “General Armageddon” for his ruthless tactics bombing cities in Syria.
Wagner has not answered CNN’s request for a response.
It is unclear what Wagner’s VIP membership entails, including whether there is a financial benefit.
Surovikin was known to have links with the mercenary group, but the documents raise questions about the closeness of senior members of the Russian military and Wagner.
During Prigozhin’s short-lived rebellion, Wagner fighters were able to take over the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, facing virtually no resistance from the Russian army.