Putin Abandons Shoigu? Top Russian Official Disappears Amid Corruption Scandal and Arrest Rumors

Sergei Shoigu, one of Vladimir Putin’s most trusted and powerful officials, has mysteriously disappeared just as pressure is building to end the war in Ukraine.

Shoigu, who is 69 years old, used to be Russia’s defence minister for most of the war before being moved to another top role as secretary of the Russian Security Council.

He’s been a close figure around Putin for years, even joining him on private holidays in Siberia. But now, people in Moscow are asking serious questions about where he is and why he missed the most important public event in Russia  the Victory Day parade in Red Square.

The official reason given was that he was away for a “routine medical check-up” at a health resort. But many don’t believe this excuse, especially since no high-ranking official would schedule a basic health visit on such a major national day. Adding to the mystery, his daughter Ksenia was seen trying to find him at the parade but reportedly couldn’t.

Rumors are now growing that Shoigu might be caught up in a major corruption scandal involving the Ministry of Defence. Several of his former close allies have already been arrested and accused of stealing large amounts of government money.

Some reports claim that financial records show Shoigu and his family had large amounts of money that don’t match their official income. If this goes to a public trial, it could be hard to cover up.

There are also claims that Vladimir Putin might be letting Shoigu take the fall and refusing to protect him. According to some insiders, such large-scale corruption couldn’t have happened without Shoigu’s approval. Even though Shoigu was seen working the day before the parade, his sudden disappearance could mean he’s next in line to be arrested.

Other theories suggest Putin might strip him of his current role but give him a senator position to quietly remove him from power without causing too much attention. Still, some think Putin is angry with Shoigu for not delivering a clear military victory in Ukraine and wants to punish him.

Shoigu has been in government since 1991, even before Putin took office, making him the longest-serving senior official. His daughter Yulia runs a national emergency mental health service, while Ksenia manages a military museum that once hosted both Shoigu and Putin.

But now, with a dozen of Shoigu’s former ministry staff already arrested, including his close friend and ex-deputy Timur Ivanov, things don’t look good. Ivanov himself was arrested last year by armed agents during a doctor’s visit and is accused of taking bribes.

Whatever is really going on, Shoigu’s absence and the silence around it suggest that his powerful career may be coming to a sudden and dramatic end. And in a country where Putin makes all the major decisions, this may be a sign of much deeper problems behind the scenes.