Crackdown on Corruption in Russian Defense Ministry

Russian authorities have detained senior officials, including Major General Vladimir Shesterov, in a corruption probe related to the Patriot Park. The string of investigations aims to eradicate corruption within the military as Russia's war in Ukraine continues. President Putin has replaced Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu with Andrei Belousov to ensure tighter budget management.

Russian authorities have detained another senior defence ministry official amid a series of corruption investigations, this time tied to a military theme park, the state investigative committee announced on Monday.

Major General Vladimir Shesterov was detained on suspicion of fraud, along with Vyacheslav Akhmedov, director of the popular war-themed Patriot Park near Moscow. 'According to the investigation, these individuals, with accomplices, were involved in the theft of budget funds allocated for the activities and functioning of Patriot Park and its convention and exhibition centre,' the committee said.

State news agency RIA reported that other park employees have also been detained. This marks the most extensive corruption scandal to hit the Russian military and defence establishment in years, beginning on April 23 with the arrest of Deputy Defence Minister Timur Ivanov for taking bribes. Subsequent arrests include an army major general and the deputy head of the general staff, alongside businessmen suspected of paying bribes. This series of investigations signifies a strong Kremlin initiative to combat military corruption as the war in Ukraine reaches the two-and-a-half-year mark.

Following these arrests, President Vladimir Putin swiftly replaced long-serving Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu with Andrei Belousov, an economist, aiming for better management of Russia's defence budget and to eliminate corruption and waste.

(With inputs from agencies.)