Russia detains military official

Russian authorities have detained Major General Vladimir Shesterov on suspicion of fraud, alongside Vyacheslav Akhmedov, the director of the popular Patriot Park near Moscow, as part of a broad corruption investigation linked to the military. These arrests are part of a significant wave of corruption scandals affecting the Russian military, which began with the arrest of Deputy Defence Minister Timur Ivanov in April. The investigative committee claims that Shesterov and Akhmedov, along with accomplices, were involved in embezzling budget funds intended for the park's activities. Additional employees of the park have also been detained for questioning. This crackdown on corruption comes as President Vladimir Putin has made leadership changes within the Defence Ministry, aiming to tighten management of the defense budget. The ongoing investigations reflect a serious effort to address corruption in the military as the war in Ukraine nears its two-and-a-half-year mark.