On July 26, 2024, former russian Deputy Defense Minister Dmitry Bulgakov was arrested on corruption charges. Dmitry Bulgakov served as a Deputy Defense Minister from 2008 until 2022. According to russian media, the charges relate to the procurement of food for military personnel that was unfit for human consumption, but nonetheless bought by the Ministry of Defense at inflated prices, allegedly in exchange for bribes to the then Deputy Defense Minister Dmitry Bulgakov, the UK Defense Intelligence reports.
As previously reported, corruption is endemic in the russian defense industry and is broadly tolerated within certain limits and as long as the individuals involved enjoy the required level of political patronage.
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The full-scale war in Ukraine has generated a crackdown on corrupt practices, both in a practical sense, to reduce budgetary wastage during a very costly military campaign; but also because political patrons such as former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, have lost direct influence over procurement processes. While current Defense Minister Andrei Belousov is likely attempting to limit corrupt practices, it is highly unlikely that he will be able or willing to eliminate corruption in russian defense spending.
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