Russia detains fourth top defense figure for bribe-taking, media reports
Russia has detained the deputy head of the army’s general staff Lieutenant General Vadim Shamarin, on suspicion of large-scale bribe-taking, Russian media reported on Thursday, the latest in a series of arrests of top military officials.
The Kommersant newspaper reported that Shamarin had been detained in connection with alleged fraud, and that his home had been searched.
It is the fourth arrest of a high-ranking defense figure since April, when Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov was placed in pre-trial detention for suspected bribe-taking.
In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state owned agency Sputnik, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (C), Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (R) and Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Timur Ivanov (L) visit the military Patriot Park in Kubinka, outside Moscow, on September 19, 2018. Russian law enforcement have detained Deputy Defence Minister Timur Ivanov on suspicion of taking bribes, Russia’s Investigative Committee said on April 23, 2024.
Alexey Nikolskiy | Afp | Getty Images
Since then, Lieutenant General Yuri Kuznetsov, head of personnel at the defense ministry, and Major General Ivan Popov, former commander of Russia’s 58th army, have aso been arrested.
The series of arrests comes amid major changes in Russia’s defence establishment, after President Vladimir Putin this month removed long-serving Sergei Shoigu as minister, replacing him with former deputy prime minister Andrei Belousov.
— Reuters
Russia detains fourth top defense figure for bribe-taking, media reports
Russia has detained the deputy head of the army’s general staff Lieutenant General Vadim Shamarin, on suspicion of large-scale bribe-taking, Russian media reported on Thursday, the latest in a series of arrests of top military officials.
The Kommersant newspaper reported that Shamarin had been detained in connection with alleged fraud, and that his home had been searched.
It is the fourth arrest of a high-ranking defense figure since April, when Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov was placed in pre-trial detention for suspected bribe-taking.
In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state owned agency Sputnik, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (C), Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (R) and Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Timur Ivanov (L) visit the military Patriot Park in Kubinka, outside Moscow, on September 19, 2018. Russian law enforcement have detained Deputy Defence Minister Timur Ivanov on suspicion of taking bribes, Russia’s Investigative Committee said on April 23, 2024.
Alexey Nikolskiy | Afp | Getty Images
Since then, Lieutenant General Yuri Kuznetsov, head of personnel at the defense ministry, and Major General Ivan Popov, former commander of Russia’s 58th army, have aso been arrested.
The series of arrests comes amid major changes in Russia’s defence establishment, after President Vladimir Putin this month removed long-serving Sergei Shoigu as minister, replacing him with former deputy prime minister Andrei Belousov.
— Reuters
Border Belgorod region targeted with 35 rockets and 3 drones, Russia says
Russia said its air defense systems shot down 35 rockets and three drones over the border Belgorod region overnight.
“During the past night, an attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack using the ‘Vilkha’ multiple launch rocket system, the ‘Vampire’ multiple launch rocket system and an aircraft-type UAV [drone]on targets on the territory of the Russian Federation was stopped” the Russian Ministry of Defense said on Telegram Thursday.
A woman walks past the giant Z letter, a tactical insignia of Russian troops in Ukraine, in the Russian city of Belgorod, some 25 miles from the border with Ukraine, on May 27, 2023.
Olga Maltseva | Afp | Getty Images
CNBC was unable to verify the claims but Belgorod, adjacent to Ukraine’s northeast Kharkiv region where Russian forces are waging an intense offensive, has found itself under daily attack by Ukrainian forces.
The offensive is aimed at capturing the entire Kharkiv region and to create a “buffer zone” to protect Russian border regions, like Belgorod, from attack, Russia says.
— Holly Ellyatt
Norway to block entry for most Russian tourists
Norway will further restrict access for Russian tourist travellers due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, blocking almost all entry, the Nordic country’s justice ministry said on Thursday.
NATO member Norway, which shares a border with Russia in the Arctic measuring almost 200 kilometres (124 miles), first imposed restrictions on Russian tourist visas in 2022.
“The decision to tighten the entry rules is in line with the Norwegian approach of standing by allies and partners in reaction to Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine,” Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl said in a statement.
Norwegian soldier Vegard Aalbretsen looks out toward the Russian border in Kirkenes, northern Norway, on Feb. 24, 2022, after Russia launched a military assault on Ukraine.
Annika Byrde | Afp | Getty Images
Russian citizens whose purpose is tourism and other non-essential travel will be rejected upon entry across the external border. Exceptions may be granted in cases such as visits to close family residing in Norway, the ministry said.
The new policy takes effect on May 29.
“The change implies that the police can refuse the entry of Russian citizens who are covered by the instruction,” the ministry said.
— Reuters
Russian proposal to change Baltic Sea border is deleted from document portal
A Russian defence ministry proposal for a draft government decree to change the Russian border in the Baltic Sea was deleted from an official Russia document portal on Wednesday.
“The draft is deleted,” the site said on the address where the document had earlier been visible.
— Reuters
Germany, Lithuania and Finland seek clarity from Russia over Baltic Sea plan
The German, Finnish and Lithuanian governments say they are awaiting more clarity from Russia following a proposal by the country’s defense ministry suggesting a change to how its Baltic Sea maritime border is determined.
“Of course we are observing the situation closely,” a German government spokesperson told a regular press conference on Wednesday, according to Reuters.
Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said that Helsinki will monitor Russia’s proposal, but tried to downplay concerns by reportedly saying that any review by Moscow is likely to be routine and not something to worry about, Reuters noted.
A naval exercise led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, and executed by the NATO Naval Striking and Support Forces, in the Baltic Sea on June 6, 2022. Russia’s onslaught in Ukraine is almost certain to eclipse other security concerns at NATO’s Madrid summit this week.
Jonathan Nackstrand | Afp | Getty Images
Lithuania’s foreign minister said that any plan to amend the borders of the country’s territorial waters in the Baltic Sea is an escalation against NATO and the EU.
“Another Russian hybrid operation is underway, this time attempting to spread fear, uncertainty and doubt about their intentions in the Baltic Sea,” Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said on social media platform X.
Russia has sent mixed messages over a reported proposal by the Russian defense ministry to change how Russia’s maritime border is measured. An unnamed “military-diplomatic” source was quoted by Russian state new agencies denying the report, but the Kremlin neither confirmed nor denied the move. when asked if the proposal was politically motivated.
— Holly Ellyatt
Russia rapidly restoring energy facilities: Novak
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak arrives for Russia – China talks in an expanded format at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia March 21, 2023.
Sergei Karpukhin | Sputnik | Reuters
Russian energy facilities are being rapidly restored following drone attacks, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said in an interview with Russia-1, according to Google-translated comments carried by state news outlet Tass.
“Of course, it is impossible to exclude [attacks] 100%. Sometimes the situations that happened happen,” he noted. “Nevertheless, restoration is proceeding at a rapid pace in order to ensure the operation of enterprises in full.”
Moscow is also improving the protection of its energy infrastructure, he noted, adding that this work is currently ongoing.
On Sunday, Moscow reported that Ukraine launched an extensive 62-drone attack on Russian regions, Reuters reported. The Interfax news agency said that the oil refinery in Slavyansk halted work following the offensive.
Russia is a key global oil and gas producer, with threats against its hydrocarbon infrastructure adding to supply-side pressures in the energy market.
— Ruxandra Iordache
Russian forces claim to have seized village near Bakhmut
Russian forces have seized the village of Klishchiivka in Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, the country’s defense ministry said on Telegram Wednesday.
An aerial view of a destroyed Ukrainian village in the Bakhmut District on September 27, 2023 in Klishchiivka, Ukraine.
Libkos | Getty Images News | Getty Images
The village is close to the city of Bakhmut, a hotspot of intense fighting before its capture in May 2023. CNBC was unable to verify the claim and Ukraine has not commented.
— Holly Ellyatt
