Russian Military Court Orders Senior Training Official Held in Custody

Oct. 1, 2026 Major General Sergei Nikitushkin. Russian Defense Ministry A Moscow military court has ordered a senior Russian general responsible for military training facilities and equipment held in pre-trial detention in a criminal case whose details have not been disclosed, the Kommersant newspaper reported. The 235th Garrison Military Court issued the ruling against Major General Sergei Nikitushkin on Wednesday evening, the newspaper said. The charges against him were not immediately known. Nikitushkin heads the department responsible for training facilities and equipment within the Russian Armed Forces’ Main Directorate of Combat Training. The directorate oversees troop training, develops training infrastructure and supplies equipment used to prepare soldiers for combat. Nikitushkin, 51, served in Russia’s war on Ukraine and was promoted to major general by President Vladimir Putin in December 2024. The Baza Telegram channel reported that he had worked on modernizing tank training grounds in Russia. He previously complained of insufficient funding to buy simulators for training troops to operate armored vehicles, communications equipment, drones and night-vision devices. He said the war in Ukraine had demonstrated the importance of such equipment in preparing soldiers for future combat. The directorate also oversees Patriot Park, a military exhibition complex near Moscow that has been implicated in embezzlement cases involving several senior officers. Those convicted include former Deputy Defense Minister Pavel Popov, whose prison sentence was reduced to 10 years, and Major General Vladimir Shesterov, a former deputy head of the Defense Ministry’s innovation development directorate, who received six years. Putin appointed Colonel General Rustam Muradov to lead the Main Directorate of Combat Training in June. This article was translated with the help of artificial intelligence and was reviewed by a Moscow Times editor before publication. Learn more about our newsroom's AI policy here. Read this article in Russian at The Moscow Times' Russian service. Read more about: Defense , Court case , Ukraine war 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 Russian Defense Salaries Fall in First Since Ukraine Invasion Novaya Gazeta Europe found that advertised salaries in the defense sector were down 10% in in August 2025 compared to the same month of 2024. 1 Min read Russian Sentenced to 24 Years for Army Office Arson Attempts The 24-year sentence is one of the longest handed down for such an offense. 2 Min read Russian Defense Chief Calls for ‘Next-Gen’ Weapons Use in Ukraine The Russian military should deploy next-generation weapons in its campaign in Ukraine, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Wednesday. “We need to... Crowdfunding Spotlights Russian Military’s Supply Problems in Ukraine Yevgenia Kuzevanova has been raising money to buy everything from first aid kits to instant noodles for Russian forces in Ukraine. Her online group...