Putin is reportedly facing a serious dilemma on how to deal with the growing unrest within his ranks while simultaneously dealing with Ukraine’s progress on the battlefield. The reluctance to punish Surovikin exposes the erosion of Putin’s power base and reveals further cracks in his leadership.
Surovikin, who previously served as commander of the armed forces in Ukraine, was transferred in January to oversee Russia’s air force following rumors of a possible coup.
Despite the rumors, Surovikin’s daughter, Veronicaclaims her father is safe and continues to fulfill his duties, saying “Nothing happened to the Commander in Chief of the Aerospace Forces. No one arrested him and everyone is at work.”