Russian defense shake-up: Purges weaken Shoigu's Kremlin clout

The arrest of additional individuals from the leadership of Russia's Ministry of Defense indicates that the removal of people associated with former head of the ministry Sergey Shoigu is ongoing, and his influence in the Kremlin is waning, wrote the American think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

On Monday, it was reported that General Vladimir Shestyrov, deputy head of the main department for innovation development at the Ministry of Defense, and Vyacheslav Akhmedov, director of the Patriot theme park in Kubinka near Moscow, were detained. Investigators accuse them of embezzling 40 million rubles (over $470,000).

According to comments from so-called military bloggers critical of Shoigu, the construction of the Patriot Park was a "personal project" of this previously untouchable official and close associate of Putin. Former Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov, who has been in custody since April on corruption charges, was personally overseeing the construction of this facility.

ISW cites opinions of bloggers who believe that the "old guard" associated with Shoigu is being purged, and the subsequent arrests indicate that his influence in the Kremlin is waning. After being removed from the Ministry of Defense, Shoigu was appointed Secretary of the Security Council.

Sources that have previously accurately predicted changes at the top of the ministry claim that recently dismissed Deputy Defense Minister General Pavel Popov may also be arrested. According to unconfirmed information, General Alexander Shestakov, head of the main armor department responsible for planning and production of armored vehicles, may also lose his position.

Since April, five Russian generals close to Shoigu have been arrested on corruption charges, along with other important officials in the Ministry of Defense and leaders from the defense industry.

In May, Putin decided to appoint Andrei Belousov, who had not previously been associated with the military, as the defense minister. Since then, key positions in the ministry have also been replaced.