The head of the Defense Committee of the Russian State Duma Andrey Kartapolov said on Wednesday that General Sergei Surovikin, deputy commander of Russian military operations in Ukraine, "is at rest, and he is not available now."
General Surovikin was accused of supporting Russia's Wagner Special Military Group in its rebellion in late June and has not appeared since.
Kartapolov was heard saying in a video posted on social media that "Surovikin is currently at rest and is not available now."
The last time Surovikin appeared in public was in a video calling for an end to the rebellion of the Wagner Group headed by Yevgeny Prigozhin on June 23 and 24.
Surovikin is known in the Russian press as "General Armageddon" because of his violent plans in the Syrian war.
Relationships with Wagner
Surovikin is believed to have good relations with the Wagner Group leader, praising him while regularly criticizing Russia's military leadership, particularly Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of Staff Valery Grasimov for their handling of the war in Ukraine.
A New York Times report, based on a U.S. intelligence affidavit last month, said Surovikin had prior knowledge of the insurgency and that Russian authorities were investigating whether he was involved.
Some Russian and international media reported last month that Surovikin had been arrested, but there was no official confirmation and the Kremlin refused to answer questions about him.
Rumors have also swirled since the failure of the insurgency that the Russian military leadership has made changes in its ranks, particularly with regard to General Sorovikin, who was considered an ally of the Wagner Group.