UK intelligence expects new arrests in Russian Defence Ministry

The Defence Intelligence of the United Kingdom has highlighted the entrenched corruption within the structures of the Russian Ministry of Defence and, in connection with this, expressed expectations of new arrests within the ministry.

Source: UK Defence Intelligence review dated 25 May, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The ministry mentioned the latest in a series of arrests of officials from the Russian Ministry of Defence, when on 23 May, Russian Deputy Chief of the General Staff Vadim Shamarin was detained on suspicion of bribery. 

This followed recent arrests of other high-ranking officials of the Russian Ministry of Defence also suspected of corruption  – Deputy Defence Minister Timur Ivanov, and Head of Personnel Yury Kuznetsov.

The intelligence service noted that the detained Shamarin had headed the communications directorate of the Russian Ministry of Defence since 2021, and one of his predecessors in this position, Khalil Arslanov, was also prosecuted for corruption. 

"Corruption is deeply rooted in the Russian MOD, and it is likely that there will be further arrests," the review stated.

Background:

• UK Defence Intelligence said that Russia is stepping up its war against Ukraine with resources previously earmarked for Africa, including the African Corps, which includes former Wagnerites.
• The day before, UK intelligence expressed confidence in the destruction of the Russian corvette Tsiklon, a Kalibr cruise missile carrier, as a result of a Ukrainian strike on the port of occupied Sevastopol on 19 May.

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