JUST IN: Putin’s Former Defense Chief Gets 13-Year Behind Bars

Former Russian Deputy Defence Minister Timur Ivanov has been sentenced to 13 years in prison after being found guilty of large-scale corruption and embezzlement.

The ruling was announced on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in a closed-door court session due to national security concerns.

Ivanov was first arrested in April 2024 on bribery charges.

In October, investigators added embezzlement charges. The case has since become one of the biggest military corruption scandals in recent Russian history.

Over $48 Million Embezzled

Prosecutors revealed that Ivanov and others illegally moved 4.1 billion roubles (around $48.8 million) to foreign bank accounts.

The transactions were linked to inflated defence contracts and unauthorized spending.

As part of the sentence, Ivanov was also stripped of all state honors. His lawyer stated that the ruling would be appealed.

Luxury Lifestyle Revealed

Reports from Russian media say Ivanov and his wife owned:

• A high-end apartment in central Moscow
• A three-storey mansion on the outskirts of the city
• A fleet of classic cars, including a Bentley and an Aston Martin.

These findings sparked further public outrage, especially during a time of ongoing military conflict and economic pressure in Russia.

Wider Crackdown on Defence Officials

Ivanov’s conviction is part of a broader anti-corruption effort targeting Russia’s defence leadership.

More than a dozen officials, including two other former deputy ministers, have been arrested in similar cases.

Anton Filatov, a former aide to Ivanov, was also sentenced to 12.5 years in prison.

Ivanov’s arrest was welcomed by Russia’s pro-war commentators, known as Z-bloggers.

These influential voices support the war in Ukraine but have long criticized military leadership for corruption and incompetence.

“This is what happens when generals live in luxury while soldiers fight without supplies,” one blogger wrote on Telegram.

The case against Timur Ivanov highlights growing public frustration with elite corruption in Russia’s defence sector.

As the Kremlin faces ongoing pressure from its war efforts and citizens alike, more high-ranking officials could soon be brought to justice.

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