Russian law enforcement authorities have charged two more military officers with taking bribes, as part of a corruption probe within Russia’s Defense Ministry. Ivan Populovsky and Grigory Zorin allegedly received over $120,000 from companies supplying goods to the ministry in exchange for weakening oversight and providing them with benefits in state contracts. Both men have pleaded guilty and are being investigated for other similar crimes, including embezzlement of defense funds.
Since late April, several senior military officials have been arrested in various corruption cases, leading to a purge within the military. The dismissal of Sergei Shoigu as defense minister in May was also part of this crackdown on corruption. Recent corruption scandals within the military have drawn increased scrutiny, especially after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In a separate development, four current and former Russian officials, one with ties to the Defense Ministry, were detained in recent corruption cases. The ongoing efforts to root out corruption in the military reflect a broader push for accountability and transparency within Russia’s defense establishment.