Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has detained former Deputy Defense Minister Dmitry Bulgakov as part of a corruption investigation, marking the latest development in a series of high-profile arrests within the nation’s military establishment. The FSB’s announcement comes after several top officials were arrested following a major reshuffling at the Russian Defense Ministry.
Bulgakov, who is 69 years old and was responsible for logistical support for the Russian army between 2010 and 2022, was placed in pre-trial detention in Moscow as part of “the initiated criminal corruption case.” The FSB stated that law enforcement agencies are working to establish “the causes and conditions that contributed to illegal activities,” though it did not specify what exactly Bulgakov is suspected of.
During his tenure, Bulgakov played a significant role in the construction of a major railway line bypassing Ukraine, which opened for traffic in 2017. A year prior, he was awarded the prestigious Hero of Russia title, the nation’s highest honor. Additionally, Bulgakov had a prominent role in organizing the logistics of the Russian military contingent in Syria.
However, his time at the Defense Ministry came to an abrupt end in September 2022 when he was removed from his post and assigned “another position,” with no further details provided by the ministry. Bulgakov later took on a role as inspector general of the Defense Ministry.
The FSB’s recent announcement follows a string of high-profile arrests within Russia’s defense establishment in recent months, as several senior officials have been detained on suspicion of corruption. Notably, these arrests include Vadim Shamarin, head of the Main Directorate of Communications; Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov; and Yury Kuznetsov, head of the Main Personnel Directorate of the Defense Ministry. Another person of interest in this corruption probe is Ivan Popov, who once commanded the 58th Army during Russia’s conflict in Ukraine.
Many of these arrests occurred shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin replaced Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu with Andrey Belousov, an economist and former first deputy prime minister. Following this change, Shoigu was appointed secretary of the Russian Security Council. The FSB’s announcement regarding Bulgakov’s detention raises questions about the extent of corruption within Russia’s defense establishment and whether further arrests may be imminent as law enforcement seeks to uncover and eliminate illegal activities within the nation’s military hierarchy.