In Moscow, a crackdown is underway against generals accused of corruption, impacting not only the Ministry of Defense but also other security agencies.
According to the British Ministry of Defense on X (Twitter).
On October 7, 2024, Russian media reported that prosecutors had brought additional charges against former Deputy Minister of Defense Timur Ivanov, who had previously been charged in April 2024.
The first case concerns the embezzlement of 200 million rubles (approximately $2 million) during the procurement of two vessels for ferry crossings across the Kerch Strait, which were later damaged during the war. The second case involves the embezzlement of 3 billion rubles (around $200 million) from Interkommerz Bank during foreign currency purchases.
British intelligence indicates that charges continue to pile up against former high-ranking Russian military officials, marking the largest pursuit of officials below the level of executive power or government.
Russian media also reports that eight officials with general ranks have been dismissed from agencies such as the Investigative Committee, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, and the Federal Penitentiary Service. Independent Russian media speculate that these dismissals are related to corruption allegations.
It is worth recalling that following his fifth presidential term, Vladimir Putin implemented some changes in the government, including the dismissal of Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, appointing him as Secretary of the National Security Council. Nikolai Patrushev, who had headed the Security Council since 2008, became Putin's assistant, while Andrei Biloусов was appointed as the new Minister of Defense.