World · Europe · 4 hrs ago
Two Russian naval officers arrested over alleged bribes and dumping scheme
Two naval officers were arrested in Russia over alleged bribes linked to military land.
They are Alexey Suglobov, commander of the Leningrad Naval Base, and Alexey Ionov, head of a Defense Ministry marine engineering service in Lomonosov.
Investigators say that they took millions of rubles from businesspeople from late 2025 for protection and access to military land.
Companies allegedly mined sand and gravel on the land, then used the resulting pits to dump construction waste.
The alleged arrangement let companies earn money from the materials and save on waste disposal.
A military court jailed both men for two months on October 23; the companies involved and the exact damage have not been disclosed.
Two Russian naval officers have been arrested over alleged bribes linked to commercial use of military land and the dumping of construction waste.
The officers are Alexei Suglobov, commander of the Leningrad Naval Base, and Alexei Ionov, head of a Defence Ministry marine engineering service.
Investigators allege that, from late 2025, they took payments from businesses in return for protection and access to military land for sand and gravel extraction.
The businesses allegedly filled the resulting pits with construction waste, saving on disposal costs.
Both officers were placed in pre-trial detention for two months on 23 October 2026.
- Who
- Alexei Suglobov, commander of the Leningrad Naval Base, and Alexei Ionov, head of a Defence Ministry marine engineering service.
- What
- They were arrested and accused of taking bribes for providing businesses access to military land, where sand and gravel were extracted and construction waste was allegedly dumped.
- When
- Suglobov was detained on 21 October 2026. Both officers were remanded in custody on 23 October.
- Where
- Kronstadt and the Lomonosov military town in the Leningrad region.
- Why
- Investigators allege the officers accepted payments for protection and the commercial use of military land.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Investigators allege that Suglobov and Ionov began systematically receiving payments from businesspeople.
Suglobov was detained in Kronstadt, allegedly while receiving a 1.5 million-ruble bribe.
A military garrison court remanded Suglobov and Ionov in custody for two months.
- Accused officers
- Alexei Suglobov and Alexei Ionov
- Alleged bribe at detention
- 1.5 million rubles
- Military land
- Lomonosov military town
- Court order
- Two months in custody, from 23 October 2026
- Alleged activity
- Sand and gravel extraction followed by dumping construction waste