Russian Defense Officials Arrested Amidst Fraud Allegations

Russian war-focused Telegram channels reported the arrest of Vladimir Verteletsky, a defense ministry official, suspected of large-scale fraud. This follows the arrest of Lieutenant-General Vadim Shamarin, making him the fourth senior defense figure apprehended in the past month for bribe-taking.

Russian war-focused Telegram channels on Thursday reported the arrest of Vladimir Verteletsky, a defense ministry official in charge of state defense purchases. According to the reports by several war bloggers, Verteletsky is suspected of large-scale fraud. There was no official confirmation.

Earlier on Thursday, Lieutenant-General Vadim Shamarin, deputy head of the Russian army's General Staff, became the fourth senior defence figure to be arrested in the past month on suspicion of bribe-taking.