Russia appoints new aerospace forces chief after incumbent vanished during mercenary mutiny - RIA

General Sergei Surovikin, commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, visits the Joint Headquarters of the Russian armed forces involved in military operations in Ukraine, in an unknown location in Russia, in this picture released December 17, 2022. Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Kremlin via REUTERS/File Photo

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia has appointed a new acting head of its aerospace forces to replace General Sergei Surovikin, who vanished from sight after a brief Wagner mercenary mutiny against the top brass in June, the state RIA news agency reported on Wednesday.

During the June 22-24 revolt, Surovikin, who once commanded Russia's overall war effort in Ukraine - something Moscow calls a "special military operation" - appeared in a video, looking uncomfortable and without insignia, urging Wagner mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin to stand down.