Russian Army General Arrested on Fraud Charges – RBC

July 3, 2026 Moskva News Agency A Russian general has been arrested and placed in pre-trial detention on fraud charges, part of a sprawling investigation into the extortion of soldiers, the RBC news outlet reported Friday, citing sources familiar with the matter. Major General Alexander Dembitsky headed a recently created army corps within the Leningrad Military District. Legally attached to his unit was Yastreb, a small private mercenary group. It remains unclear when Dembitsky was discharged from the military. Russian investigators have not commented publicly on the case. According to RBC, Yastreb’s founder, Alexei Marushchenko, testified against Dembitsky as part of a plea deal in a separate criminal probe. Marushchenko faces multiple charges, including murder, weapons trafficking, large-scale fraud, extortion, kidnapping and abuse of power. At least 10 people are being prosecuted for crimes tied to Yastreb, sources told RBC. The case centers on allegations that the co-conspirators deceived 89 recruits into signing up with Yastreb and subsequently extorted more than 8.8 million rubles ($114,000) from them. Investigators reportedly allege that at least one victim was handcuffed and beaten for several days until he agreed to transfer 500,000 rubles. In another incident, suspects allegedly kidnapped a war correspondent who was investigating Yastreb and demanded a 1-million-ruble ransom from his wife. Dembitsky, who is reportedly being held at Moscow’s Lefortovo detention center, denies the allegations. An appeal against Dembitsky’s detention is expected to be reviewed by a higher military court, though a date has not been set. The broader investigation was opened in February 2025, and authorities have since questioned more than 800 witnesses, RBC reported. Read more about: Russian military , Court cases Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Ex-Kursk Governor Testifies Against Predecessor in Border Defense Corruption Trial Alexei Smirnov entered into a plea bargain with prosecutors after alleging that Roman Starovoit received millions of rubles in a kickback scheme. 2 Min read Russian Soldier Convicted of Killing 4 Fellow Servicemen Sentenced to Life in Prison – Mediazona A military court found Corporal Nikita Posmetukhov guilty of murder and violence against military authorities during an armed conflict. 1 Min read Russian Soldier Jailed for Accidentally Shooting Down Friendly Helicopter Captain Igor Pashkov turned himself in to the authorities last May, “admitting that he could have made a fatal mistake,” Kommersant reported. 2 Min read Russia Jails Soldier 23 Years for Killing Fellow Servicemen in Drunken Grenade Blast Junior Sergeant Dmitry Lobovikov was accused of being intoxicated when he threw a live grenade inside a sleeping quarter in January 2023. 1 Min read