This was reported in the July 7 update on the Russia-Ukraine war.Intelligence noted that on July 1, former Russian Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov was sentenced to 13 years in prison on charges of embezzlement and money laundering. Before his arrest in April 2024, Ivanov was responsible for military construction and procurement, including “reconstruction” efforts in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.Currently, he is the highest-ranking Russian official to have been convicted on such charges. Other high-level officials close to former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu have also come under suspicion.British intelligence believes the verdict should not be interpreted as a sign that the Russian leadership intends to seriously fight corruption."Whilst deeply rooted corruption that exists within the Russian Ministry of Defence significantly undermines the effectiveness of the Russian military, the goal of Russian authorities is almost certainly not the eradication of corruption entirely; such behaviour is fundamental to the functioning of the Russian regime. Instead, Russian authorities are likely seeking to limit corruption to more manageable levels that have less impact on the functioning of the department," the review stated.