Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and deputy Andrei Belousov replaced
DVKR expanded role in military purge process
High-ranking officers arrested on corruption charges: Lt. Gen. Vadim Shamarin, Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov, Lt-Gen Yuri Kuznetsov, Maj. Gen Ivan Popov
Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated a military purge
In recent weeks, Russian President Vladimir Putin has initiated a military purge, replacing several high-ranking defense officials with new appointees. The most notable replacements include Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and his deputy Andrei Belousov. These changes come after a series of high-profile arrests of military officials on corruption charges.
One such official is Lt. Gen. Vadim Shamarin, who was arrested in late May on suspicion of large-scale bribery. Shamarin, a deputy chief of the army's general staff and head of the Main Communications Directorate, was taken into custody following an investigation by the FSB's Military Counterintelligence department (DVKR).
Shamarin is not alone in facing charges. In April, Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov and Lt-Gen Yuri Kuznetsov were arrested on similar corruption allegations. Maj. Gen Ivan Popov, the former commander of Russia's 58th army, was also detained for fraud.
The DVKR has been expanding its operations since February 2022 and now plays a significant role in the purge process. The agency is responsible for processing prisoners of war (PoWs) in filtration camps and supervising troops on the battlefield.
Politicians have called for the regime to reinstate Smersh, a notorious Soviet-era counterintelligence unit known for its ruthless methods, and give more powers to the DVKR. Russian officers understand that
Russian President Vladimir Putin replaced his defense minister of 12 years, Sergei Shoigu, with Andrei Belousov in a recent reshuffle.
Prigozhin, a year ago, publicly criticized military chiefs for incompetence and corruption and demanded their replacement. He lost power battle with Shoigu and Gerasimov which resulted in his death shortly after.
Accuracy
Lt Gen Vadim Shamarin, deputy chief of the army’s general staff and head of the Main Communications Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces, has been arrested on bribe-taking charges.
Valery Gerasimov remains chief of the general staff of the Russian armed forces despite high-profile arrests in the ministry and general staff reflecting badly on military leadership.
Russia jailed Lt. Gen. Vadim Shamarin on suspicion of 'large-scale' bribery
Lt. Gen. Vadim Shamarin was a deputy head of the Russian military’s main commanding body, the general staff, and oversaw its communications directorate
Russia has arrested four high-profile defense officials in a month: Lt. Gen. Yuri Kuznetsov, Timur Ivanov, Maj. Gen. Ivan Popov and Lt. Gen. Vadim Shamarin
These corruption arrests signal Putin’s most aggressive effort to overhaul his military leadership since the disastrous beginnings of his Ukraine invasion in early 2022
Accuracy
Vladimir Verteletsky, a military official overseeing procurement, was also arrested for 'abuse of official powers'
A high-level military purge is underway in Moscow, targeting at least four senior officers.
The FSB’s Military Counterintelligence department (DVKR) is playing a significant role in the purge process.
All charges against the arrested officers are corruption-related, alleging massive fraud and large-scale bribe-taking.
The DVKR has been expanding its operations since February 2022, taking charge of processing PoWs in filtration camps and supervising troops on the battlefield.
Politicians are calling for the regime to reinstate Smersh and give more powers to the DVKR.
Russian officers understand that ‘compromising materials’ collected by the DVKR can be swiftly presented as a pretext for arrests.
Accuracy
The arrests are seen as the most serious attack on the Russian military in nearly 25 years of Putin’s rule.
