Russian General Reportedly Knew of Mutiny Beforehand

A top Russian general is rumored to be missing after American officials told The New York Times (Lean Left bias) he had advance knowledge of last weekend’s mutiny by the Wagner mercenary group. 

The Details: Citing a purportedly “well-connected” Telegram channel, the New York Post (Lean Right bias) said Gen. Sergei Surovikin, once the top commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, had “reportedly gone missing amid rumors he’s being interrogated.” A Kremlin spokesman dismissed the idea of a connection between Surovikin and the mutiny as “gossip,” adding, “The army, the people, everyone was next to the president.”

Related News: Furthermore, Western officials told The Wall Street Journal (Center bias) that Prigozhin had originally wanted to capture two high-ranking Russian military leaders. However, he changed his plans after the FSB, the Russian spy agency, found out. In the aftermath of the mutiny, Russian President Vladimir Putin moved to seize control of Wagner and its operations on several continents. 

How the Media Covered It: Coverage of the fallout from Wagner’s mutiny was less common in right-rated outlets, which tend to cover international stories less frequently. Coverage of the rumors that Surovikin was missing was initially limited to sites like the New York Post and the Daily Mail (Right bias).