Moscow has initiated legal proceedings against the former Russian Deputy Defense Minister as part of what is seen as President Vladimir Putin's campaign to root out corruption within the armed forces.

Ivanov was arrested in April last year on suspicion of accepting bribes. In October, investigators added new charges related to the embezzlement of over 3.2 billion rubles ($38.3 million). Ivanov denies these allegations.

Putin is striving to eliminate waste, mismanagement, and the draining of Russia's growing defense budget, all while the war in Ukraine enters its fourth year.

At least 12 individuals were arrested over the past year in what has been described as the largest wave of scandals to hit the military establishment in years.