"Wave of Arrests Hits Top Russian Military Officials Amid Corruption Probe"

A series of arrests of top Russian military officials on corruption charges has raised questions about President Vladimir Putin's control over the Defense Ministry, potential turf battles between military and security services, and the broader implications for Russia's governance amid the war in Ukraine. The arrests, which began shortly before Putin's fifth term, suggest a crackdown on corruption within the Defense Ministry, possibly driven by the new defense minister Andrei Belousov, and could signal a shift in how defense spending is managed.