General arrested in Russia: Corruption scandal shakes defense ministry

Deputy Minister of National Defense Gen. Dmitry Bulgakov was arrested in connection with corruption charges, RIA Novosti reported. Bulgakov, who served as the deputy head of the Ministry of Defense under Sergei Shoigu, holds the title "Hero of Russia." This is yet another arrest within the defense department in recent days.

The arrest of the general was confirmed by the Russian RIA Novosti agency, which contacted representatives of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation.

"The Main Directorate of the Investigative Committee is investigating a corruption-related criminal case. Within this, Dmitry Bulgakov, who served as deputy defense minister from 2008 to 2022, was temporarily detained. Necessary investigative actions are being carried out," stated Svetlana Petrenko, a representative of the Investigative Committee.

According to RIA Novosti, citing its sources in the investigative committee, Bulgakov acquired a plot of land measuring 23 acres and a house of 6,673 square feet during his tenure as deputy minister. The general’s wife owns a premium version of a Lexus RX350, despite her annual income not exceeding 226,000 rubles.

Bulgakov's financial disclosures indicate that he earned about 15.2 million rubles annually.

RIA also claims that Bulgakov created a system for supplying soldiers with low-quality food at inflated costs. "The former deputy minister received bribes from commercial entities on whose behalf he lobbied for contracts with the Ministry of National Defense," the report states.

From 2008 to 2010, Bulgakov was head of logistics for the Russian Armed Forces. In 2010, he was appointed deputy head of the Ministry of National Defense under Sergei Shoigu, responsible for military logistics. In September 2022, he was dismissed due to his transfer to another post.

In 2016, Bulgakov received the title "Hero of Russia" for the logistical operation "Syrian Express." Russian media used this term to describe the regular voyages of Russian landing ships to Syria. These campaigns aimed to deliver weapons and ammunition to the Syrian Armed Forces.

Over the years, Bulgakov received decorations including "For Services to the Fatherland," "For Military Merit," "For Services to the Fatherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR," and many others.

On Thursday, the media reported that Andrey Belkov, the director of the Military Construction Complex of the Ministry of National Defense of the Russian Federation, was temporarily detained.

He was charged with "exceeding his official powers in executing the state defense order."