The Russian Ministry of Defense is bracing for a new wave of high-ranking arrests.
Criminal Invetigations Target Military Leaders
According to Hotnews this comes on the heels of Ukraine's 10-day offensive in the Kursk region, which has reportedly seen Moscow lose control over 1,000 square kilometers of territory.
Sources cited by The Moscow Times and the independent Russian site Verstka indicate that the Russian government may pursue legal action against senior military officials and civilian administrators who failed to defend the Kursk region effectively.
The alleged mishandling has led to speculations that criminal investigations could target both military leaders and civilian officials who played a role in the current crisis.
Since Ukraine's incursion, which some Russian independent publications term an "invasion," the Russian military leadership has been under intense scrutiny.
Five Generals Arrested
General Valery Gerasimov, head of the Russian General Staff since January 2023, has already fallen out of favor with President Vladimir Putin. Reports from Bloomberg suggest that Gerasimov knew of Kiev's plans but failed to inform Putin, potentially jeopardizing his career.
Gerasimov was notably absent from a recent August 15 meeting at the Ministry of Defense, where Defense Minister Andrei Belousov was presented with additional defensive measures for the Kursk region. Meanwhile, Alexander Bortnikov, head of the FSB, has taken charge of the anti-terrorist operation in Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk.
Since May, at least five Russian generals have been arrested on corruption charges, including General-Lieutenant Yuri Kuznetsov and General-Major Vladimir Shesterov. Additionally, Timur Ivanov, Shoigu's deputy, was detained in a billion-dollar bribery case in April.
