Peskov called rumors about Surovikin's awareness of the impending rebellion speculation

«Now there will be a lot of speculation, gossip and so on around these events. I think this is one of such examples», — Peskov said (quoted by TASS).

He was also asked if it was not by chance that there were participants of the special operation among the military and security forces opposing the attempt of an armed rebellion.

«This is not an accident or a coincidence. This is a given and a position. The army, the people, everyone was next to the president», — the Kremlin representative replied (quoted by Interfax).

He also confirmed the awareness of Russian President Vladimir Putin that two sons of the head of the Rosgvardiya Viktor Zolotov and his grandson serve in this department.

The day before, The New York Times (NYT) newspaper, referring to American officials, reported that Surovikin was allegedly aware of the plans of the head of the Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, to carry out an armed rebellion.

After the start of Prigozhin's «march of justice», General Surovikin published a video message in which he called on the PMCs fighters to stop and abandon their plans.