A number of media outlets, citing materials from the Russian FSB, report that the Investigative Committee of Russia has opened a criminal case against the former commander of the 58th Army of the Southern Military District (SMD), Major General Ivan Popov. He is accused under Part 4 of Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation - “Fraud committed by an organized group or on an especially large scale.” The amount of damage, according to Telegram channels, reaches 100 million rubles.

On May 17, the 235th Garrison Court sent Popov into custody for a period of two months. The case materials indicate that the fraud included the theft and resale of two thousand tons of metal products purchased by the administration of the Zaporozhye region for the construction of fortifications in the interests of the 58th Army. Popov, who previously led the defense in the Zaporozhye direction during the repulsion of the Ukrainian counter-offensive last summer, was removed from his post at the end of the operation.

The investigation claims that the organized group, in addition to Popov, included an entrepreneur from the Krasnodar Territory, who was engaged in the resale of stolen property. Another high-ranking official of the Southern Military District was also involved in the scheme. The investigation continues and the investigative authorities are actively working to establish all participants in the criminal group and the circumstances of the crimes committed.