In a rapid and dramatic series of events, the Russian military is undergoing its most important leadership restructuring since Vladimir Putin became the head of the Kremlin. This wave of detentions has impacted at least four senior officers, including a deputy minister and multiple generals, causing upheaval in Russia’s defense sector.
The arrest of Deputy Minister Timur Ivanov on April 23, initially seen as a singular crackdown on corruption, was succeeded by the detention of Lt-Gen Yuri Kuznetsov, the ministry’s personnel department chief. This sequence of events suggested the beginnings of a broader campaign,the subsequent arrests of Maj-Gen Ivan Popov and Lt-Gen Vadim Shamarin .
Despite the Kremlin’s denials of any such purge, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisting that “The fight against corruption is a continuous effort. This is not a campaign. It is an integral part, in fact, of the activities of our law enforcement agencies.” Peskov noted that he could not to into further detail because he did not have the authority to do so.
The FSB’s Military Counterintelligence department (DVKR), historically positioned as the watchdog of the army’s morale and a tool to secure loyalty to the regime, seems to be at the center of this campaign. As reported, the DVKR has stepped up its operations since February 2022, expanding its presence on the battlefield and involvement in a range of activities from processing PoWs to acting against Ukrainian underground groups.
None of the charges are related to Russia’s conduct in Ukraine, but rather center on corruption, including massive fraud and large-scale bribe-taking. In all cases, the mode of attack is the same: while the Investigative Committee examines the criminal case, materials provided by the FSB’s Military Counterintelligence department (DVKR) are used.
The latest high-profile figure to be swept up in this apparent purge is Lt-Gen Shamarin, previously deputy to General Valery Gerasimov, who was detained under suspicions of large-scale bribe-taking. Accused of accepting a bribe on an “especially large scale” while awarding state contracts, Shamarin’s arrest came just days after Putin praised the General Staff’s performance.
The echoes of Prigozhin’s previous criticisms of the inefficiency and corruption within the Russian military still resonate in this purge. What remains uncertain is the extent to which this purge will reach within the Russian military; how many additional senior figures will ultimately be imprisoned.
Relevant articles:
– Russia’s Military Shaken as Top-Level Purge Unfolds, cepa.org, 05/25/2024
– Rosenberg: Russian President Putin’s military purge echoes Prigozhin’s call to act, BBC.com, 05/23/2024
– Putin’s purge ramps up as another general arrested over bribes, POLITICO Europe, 05/23/2024
– Putin Admits Prigozhin Was Right With Wild New Purge, The Daily Beast, 05/23/2024
– Russian Ministry of Defense Conducts ‘Great Purge’, The Jamestown Foundation, 05/23/2024
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