Alexei Smirnov found guilty of taking bribes from firms contracted to build fortifications along Ukraine border.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Published On 6 Apr 2026<\/span>6 Apr 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n A Russian court has jailed the former governor of Kursk in a high-profile corruption case linked to Ukraine\u2019s incursion into the border region.<\/p>\n Alexei Smirnov was sentenced on Monday to 14 years in a penal colony after being found guilty of failing to ensure strong fortifications along the border due to corruption.<\/p>\n list of 4 items<\/span>end of list<\/span><\/section>\n Ukrainian troops captured large swathes of land in a surprise offensive launched in August 2024, encountering little resistance, due in part to substandard Russian defences<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Kremlin then launched a crackdown targeting top regional and military officials over the failure to stop the incursion, which came two and a half years into Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion of Ukraine<\/a>.<\/p>\n According to the verdict, the 52-year-old Smirnov \u2013 who pleaded guilty \u2013 had accepted bribes from construction firms contracted to build defensive fortifications.<\/p>\n Media reports revealed that anti-tank barriers had been built using cheap materials that could not withstand Ukrainian military equipment.<\/p>\n The court also imposed a fine of 400 million roubles ($4.9m) and a 10-year work ban.<\/p>\n The court ruling said more than 20 million roubles ($220,000) were confiscated from Smirnov\u2019s assets.<\/p>\n Smirnov had become governor of Kursk in May 2024. In December of the same year, he resigned from office and was later remanded in custody.<\/p>\n Smirnov confessed and said his predecessor, Roman Starovoit, had recommended the practice of accepting bribes.<\/p>\nRecommended Stories <\/h2>\n
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