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In a significant move, Russia has detained Lieutenant-General Vadim Shamarin, deputy head of the army’s general staff, on suspicion of large-scale bribe-taking. 

According to state-run media, a military court ordered Shamarin’s detention for two months. This arrest is part of a broader effort to tackle corruption within the Ministry of Defence.

Shamarin’s arrest follows those of Major-General Ivan Popov and Lieutenant-General Yuri Kuznetsov, who were detained earlier this month on bribery charges. In April, Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov was also arrested for alleged bribery. These arrests are linked to an investigation into corruption involving military contracts.  

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied that these actions constitute a targeted purge, stating, “The fight against corruption is an ongoing effort. It is not a campaign. It is an integral part of the activities of law enforcement agencies.” 

This development comes as President Vladimir Putin announced a more significant shakeup this month, dismissing Former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu with economist Andrei Belousov. Shoigu, who is considered a close Putin ally, has reportedly been in “hot water” with Putin over bribery scandals. Some have claimed that Shoigu took bribes through defense contracts intended to build and develop military installations. Despite this, some pro-Russian social media accounts have called on the claims “Ukrainian propaganda.”